#OT SAYS BIG TIME LEAVE ME ALONE!!!!!

[potatobugz]

did you know? ninjago season 6: skybound (bonus drawings under the cut. i feel like im going insane)

[petew21-blog]

Mike Thurston

Mike:"Hi, Cobra. I'm Mike Thurston. Your gym instructor. I understand it's your very first time in the gym, am I right?"

Cobra:"Hey, Nice to meet you. Not really a first time, but I was never consistent with my routine."

Mike:"I can see that. Let's get to it to change that, ok? The locker room is on the other side of the gym. We're the first ones here today and probably will be until 8 so at least we won't have to worry about anybody else."

Cobra:"Great. I'll go get changed then."

Mike was stretching and picking out the music for later on. Cobra emerged from the lockerooms.

Mike:"Are you ready, man?"

Cobra:"Yeah, yeah. Let's do it."

Mike:"That's the spirit. Ok, I'll walk you through it and every time before you try out the machine, I'll show you how to use it properly. We'll start with stair climbing first as a warm up."

After 20 minutes, Mike was barely sweaty while Cobra was sweating. Cobra stepped off the stairs to get his drink. Mike didn't pay attention to him, focused on his goal.

After a while Mike stepped off. "Too much?"

Cobra:"Nah. I just get tired quickly. I'll be ok in a while." Cobra handed Mike his bottle. "Here."

Mike smile and grabbed it:"Thanks, man." Mike took a big sip.

They walked over to another machine, but Mike noticed that his vision was suddenly blurry.

Cobra:"You ok, man?"

Mike:"Yeah, a bit dizzy. I'll just sit down for a moment. I don't know what's happening to me."

Cobra:"Must be your protein drink I spiked before."

Mike looked back at Cobra shocked. "What? The fuck man? I'm calling the police." he tried to reach his phone, but was too dizzy to do so. Cobra took away his phone and placed it far form him.

Cobra:"I don't think so, man. You should go to sleep to speed this up. I'm getting excited just by looking at you."

And then Mike closed his eyes afraid of what was about to happen to him.

Mike opened his eyes. Ok, good. He's alive. That fucker didn't kill him. One good thing. His ass didn't hurt, so hopefully the guy didn't do anything to him. Mike turned around. He was sitting alone in the gym, no one in sight. He thought of calling out, but he didn't know where Cobra was. But then it happened. He noticed the mirror. He got close. The reflection. "How...what..." Cobra's reflection said as these words escaped his mouth. He was in that fucker's body. Why would he do that? How would he do that? He noticed his slender body, his well-earned physique was gone. Where was his body now?

This question was about ot be answered as his body emerged from the lockers.

His body called out at him in glee. "Hey, COBRA. What's uppp?"

Mike:"The fuck are you doing with my body?"

Cobra:"Ok, calm down. I had to take a leak. Or... your body had too. Haha. And I have to say, man. Pretty nice cock. I wouldn't have expected you to shave EVERYWHERE, but I guess that's what you guys do."

Mike:"Give me my body back you fucker or I...!!!"

Cobra:"Or what? You gonna beat me up? With that body? I don't think so. Or you're gonna call the police? Right. Who's gonna believe you?"

Mike:"You can't do this. It's not right."

Cobra:"I say it's not right to charge people such amounts of money for not even helping them out, but that's on you."

Mike:"I'll give you anything, man."

Cobra:"Anything? Leave me your body then. Haha."

Mike:"Anything but that. I work on my body all the time. I have nothing without it. I am nothing. Please, I'm begging you."

Cobra:"Eh, well... since you're begging, I'll at least enjoy the body in front of you, so you'll know how much we hate YOU guys that shove it to our faces. Sit here."

Cobra streightened in front of Mike and started the exploration of his body.

Cobra:"It's freaking amazing to have all the knowledge of the muscles and workout. It must have taken you years to know this. Ok, let's see what we got here. Ooooh. Deltoids." Cobra rolled his shoulders. "So tight. And wide. Very nice." He flexed his biceps. "Biceps brachii. Very impressive, Mike. And those triceps. Damn."

Mike quietly:"Thanks..."

Cobra moved on to his chest. "God damn these pecks. Sorry. Pectoralis major. Gotta be strict about these terms now" he flexed them and watched how they contracted and bulged forward. A creepy grin appeared on his face. His hands travelled to his abs. He moved over all his defined six pack. "The core strength is unbelievable. And what a cheese grater. Ok, moving on, rectus abdominis" he turned and flexed "And let's not forget external obliques. Shit. You have got a really great body, man."

Cobra took off his sweatpants and flexed his legs. "Fuuuuck. So bulging. I love these quadriceps, man. And even knowing their names is so hot. Vastus lateralis, intermedius and medialis, rectus femoris. Fricking amazing."

Mike:"Ehm... you... don't forget hamstrings."

Cobra looked at Mike and smiled. "Don't rush me, man. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and you want me to rush it. Chill or I'll keep this body."

Mike's face was pale now, but he stayed quiet.

Cobra took off his boxers

Mike stood up:"Dude, stop. That's too much."

Cobra:"Gotta appreciate it fully. Sit back down or we're staying like this."

Mike sat down again and watched as his body was naked flexing and enjoying himself.

Cobra|:"Let's not forget the most important muscle." he took the dick in his hand. Mike was ready to say something again, but Cobra stared him down with a dominating look. Mike just sat there as his body was stroking his dick. Now fully aroused, Cobra started moaning.

Mike:"Please, Cobra, please. Let's swap back. I want my body."

Cobra:"Not yet."

Mike:"Why? What do I have to do to get my body back?"

Cobra:"I'm glad you asked. You let me fuck my body and I give you your body back."

Mike:"You can't be serious."

Cobra:"You want your body back or no?"

Mike:"Yeah..."

Cobra:"Take your clothes off."

Mike got up and took off his shirt, his shorts and shoes. Standing only in Cobra's briefs.

Cobra:"What are you waiting for?"

Mike:"I'm not gay, man."

Cobra:"It's not gay, if you're fucking yourself. It's like masturbation."

Cobra leaned in and kissed his old body. "Man, I kinda envy you. It must be so hot to his your body." he noticed the tent forming in his briefs. "See, you're not gay, but my body certainly is. So let's enjoy it."

Cobra grabbed Mike's hand and dragged him to the showers. He turned on the water grabbed Mike's head and forced him on his knees. Mike instinctively took Cobra's hard dick and started to jerk it.

Cobra:"Don't be shy, lick it."

Mike took it in his mouth. He never sucked a dick before, so the taste was definitely something new. It might have been the body he was in, but he was a bit into it.

As water rushed over their bodies, Cobra couldn't wait any longer.

Cobra:"Pulled him up and kissed him. Let's fuck!"

He picked him up and held him above his waist. Mike's body was so strong and Cobra so slim, that it wasn't an issue. Cobra pushed his dick inside of him.

Mike:"Slow down, please."

Cobra:"NO"

He pounded more and more. Both of them moaning in pleasure. Cobra was laughing out loud. The cum filled Cobra's old body. They rested in the same position, Mike's dick still in Cobra's ass.

Cobra laughed

Mike:"What's so funny."

Cobra:"I can't believe you let me fuck you"

Mike:"You said that you would give me back my body if I did."

Cobra:"Yeah. Hahaha. So I lied. This is your body now for the rest of your life."

Cobra pulled out of Mike and set him on the floor. He washed his dick and with laughter left the showers. Mike, still naked and wet, followed him to the lockers.

Cobra:"What? You didn't understand something?"

Mike:"You stole my body."

Cobra:"Clever boy. See, you're not that stupid as I thought. And you're not bad to fuck. I could keep you as my cum dump, but I might be more into pussy now so we'll see about that."

Mike was still in the middle of the lockers as Cobra put on his new clothes.

Someone entered the locker room

Guy:"Hey, Mike. Who's the naked dude?"

Mike:"Hey, don't worry about him, he's weird, but harmless."

Guy:"You done for today?"

Mike:"Yeah, but I might come tomorrow."

Guy:"Ok, see you tomorrow then, man"

Mike was speechless. Not only his body was stolen, but it seemed, that he was gonna be pretty good at pretending to be him.

Cobra:"I hope you enjoyed your first time in the gym, COBRA”

A story request by @cobraas-blog

And a late happy birthday, man! xD

Hey! Your stories are amazing. Can I request a story? It's my birthday today and I would like to swap bodies with Mike Thurston. While he beg to swap back, the swap become permanent when I fvck him in my old body. Thank you!

[hendersister]

cruel summer

summary: steve gives you a ride home after a late night working at the mall.

pairing: steve harrington x henderson!sister reader

title 🎵: cruel summer by bananarama

It’s summertime. While most of your friends are spending the season outside and relaxing under the sun, you’re stuck working inside all day at Starcourt Mall. You got a job at Waldenbooks because you’re trying to save up money to buy a car. You’re about to enter your senior year at Hawkins High and you want to be able to drive yourself to school instead of bumming rides off of friends.

At least you’re not completely alone at the mall. Steve Harrington works at Scoops Ahoy, which isn’t too far from Waldenbooks. Sometimes when things are slow at the bookstore, you go down to the ice cream parlor to hang out with Steve. 

You became friends with Steve last fall around the same time that your little brother, Dustin, started bonding with him. But you think that working at the mall has really brought you and Steve closer together. Over the past few weeks, you two have been seeing each other on a daily basis. Steve’s face lights up every time he sees you walk into Scoops Ahoy and it always makes your day when Steve visits you at Waldenbooks. You and Steve genuinely enjoy spending time together. 

Whenever you’re both working late, Steve offers to give you a ride home. The last bus always leaves as soon as the mall closes and most of the time you need to stay later. Tonight is one of those nights. You’re working OT, re-organizing a bookshelf after some kids moved several titles around, and Steve has to stay late waiting for a shipment. The delivery driver is running way behind schedule.

By the time you finish work, the mall is closed. You go downstairs to Scoops Ahoy. Just as you arrive, you see Steve walking out of the ice cream parlor. 

“You ready to go?” he asks you.

“Yeah,” you nod.

You watch him pull down the security gate and lock it. Then you two make your way to the exit. No one else is around and most of the lights are off except for the big neon signs outside of the stores. You love it when the mall is closed because it's so quiet and calm.

“You know, I think I prefer the mall like this,” you say.

“Me too,” Steve agrees.

You and Steve walk together across an almost empty parking lot until you reach his red BMW. He gets in the driver’s seat and you sit shotgun. You keep your eyes on the rearview mirror, watching Starcourt getting smaller and smaller as Steve drives away.

“I feel like I need to enjoy this time alone with you while I still can. Because when Dustin gets back from camp, you’re gonna want to spend all your time with him insead,” you joke.

Steve chuckles, shaking his head.

“That’s not true. I’ll still wanna hang out with you too...”

You look down at your lap, hoping Steve doesn’t see you blush.

“Truth is, hanging out with you these past few weeks has been the best part of my job. Scoops Ahoy totally sucks! The only reason I have this stupid job in the first place is because I couldn’t even get into Tech and my douchebag dad’s trying to teach me a lesson. I make like $3 an hour slinging ice cream and I have no future…” Steve vents.

You shake your head.

“Don’t say that! You have a future,” you try.

“I just don’t want to be stuck in Hawkins forever…” Steve shrugs.

You take a deep breath.

“Steve, I get it… Honestly I think part of me wants a car so badly because I’m afraid I’ll never get out of Hawkins. That car is like my last ditch exit plan. I don’t want to be stuck here either,” you quietly admit.

Steve sighs, understanding. It’s comfortably quiet for a moment. And then-

“I forget about all that shit when I'm with you though…” Steve says.

You bite your bottom lip to stop yourself from grinning ear to ear. Steve looks at you and sees you blushing. You couldn’t hide it from him this time. You shyly smile back him and then change the subject-

“You should lose the sailor’s hat. It’s hiding your best feature,” you suggest.

Steve nods in agreement.

“Yeah, I know! It completely screws up my game. But I have to wear it… company policy,” he complains.

You slowly reach towards Steve.

“Well you’re off the clock now-”

You take the hat off Steve's head and toss it in the back seat.

“Much better,” you smile.

Steve smiles back at you. You look into each other’s eyes. You both feel the electricity in this moment. After a beat, Steve turns his focus back to the road. The car is approaching your street.

“Ok so I’ll just turn right and take you home…. Or I could keep going straight and then we’ll just be driving around town for a while,” Steve tells you.

Steve is having a good time. He doesn’t want this night to end. And neither do you.

“Keep going straight,” you nod.

[changingplumbob]

Chopra Household: Chapter 6, Part 8

The birthday continues! Most of the family have appointments to attend afterwards leaving Savannah and Viola under the care of nana Lavina. I mean it's not like she could be any worse than Alana the (insert your favourite swear word for mean nanny)

BTW it was daylight savings here so that's why my posts may seem an hour shifted for you...

If Viola is attempting to say something it will be in brackets, otherwise you can assume it's just trying out sounds Mercedes has a speech delay and may get words wrong, correct wording will be in brackets if that is the case Savannah aka Honeybee Mercedes aka Little Ladybug Viola aka Green Bean

Mercedes: Hey nana

Lavina: Happy birthday kiddo

Mercedes: I have bad news, papa went to the doctor and they found out he’s sick

Lavina: What? Oh why didn’t he tell me? I can’t lose him

Mercedes: Kidding!

Lavina: That’s not very funny young lady

Bizarre thing happened. Mercedes had rolled a like of deception but after this got a prompt saying she felt mischief was wrong? I like the game to have some say so while I did not add a dislike of mischief I changed her like of deception to silly behaviour to match her sister.

Milton: Oh hey you have cake

Savannah: Of course Milton, it’s a birthday party

Milton: That’s uncle Milton to you

Savannah: Mama do we really have to call him uncle? He’s only 2 years older than us

Cassandra: It’s important to be polite to family honeybee

Lavina: And respectful! You girls could learn more respect

Mercedes: *sighs* It was one joke nana

Cassandra: Lavina I have an appointment and Rahul needs to take Mercedes to one. Could you watch the kids for us please?

Savannah: I can watch the house mama

Lavina: Of course I can dear, take all the time you need

Savannah: But nana I can do it

Lavina: You’re six, you couldn’t take care of a fire. Now I hear your sister crying, go play outside or learn something

Savannah: Oh maybe I can find some cool bugs!

Lavina: Just don’t bring them into the house

Poor Viola has been trying to get to sleep but is still a bit overwhelmed by the party.

Lavina: Now what’s all this? You are making a habit of crying every time you see me Viola

Viola: *cries* ge da noo lu (I'm so tired, clapping took it out of me)

Lavina: Is nana scary huh? Big bad nana. Close your eyes and sleep, big bad nana can defend your crib from the monsters huh

Following some soothing Viola does manage to fall asleep as Lavina watches over her.

Outside Savannah isn’t having much luck. But around by the garden she spots some locusts, perfect, papa will approve of catching them! She grabs at them and manages to get hold of 2. Perhaps she can convince mama and papa to take her and Mercedes to Granite Falls so she can find more! Back inside she decides to tackle some homework.

Milton: Why are you holding your pencil like that

Savannah: Like what

Alexander: Don’t be rude Milton, not everyone does things the same way

Milton: Did you never use crayons

Savannah: *gruffly* I have a motor delay actually, pencils are hard

Milton: Oh, sorry

Alexander: That’ll teach you not to be rude

Savannah: I think I’ll go see if mama is back

Milton: I am sorry!

...

Cassandra is pumping in the spare room when Savannah finds her.

Savannah: Mama, can I still go to OT now I’m a child

Cassandra: Of course you can honeybee. It might be called something different but any support you need, we’ll find for you

Savannah: Then Uncle Alexander told him off

Mercedes: Nice!

Savannah: So what did the brain doctor say

Mercedes: They want me to do… Papa how did they say it?

Rahul: Your sister is getting referred to another type of doctor to see if she needs extra help at school

Mercedes: Can I not go to school?

Rahul: No! Whatever you need we can sort but you’ll be best having your first day with your sister

Savannah: Yeah. You don’t want to leave me alone do you? We do everything together

Mercedes: Except OT and word class

Cassandra brings Viola to the table and the family begin eating. For some reason everyone is migrating away from Viola?

Mercedes: Mama did your point tent (appointment) go okay

Cassandra: Apparently I have ADHD which I guess is a bit of a surprise but I’ll be fine. Everybody’s brain has to work in its own way

Rahul: Exactly! Now Viola, how about some peanut butter puffs? Nice and yummy

Viola looks at her papa, confused. Why is what he holding bigger than the things on the plate? It can’t just be her eyesight playing up, can it?

Savannah: Mama, can we have a trip to Granite Falls? I’d love to see some more bugs

Cassandra: Actually papa and I have been talking and we’d like you two to join scouts

Mercedes: Scouts? Why

Rahul: Nature is important to us, we want you both to learn to love it

Cassandra: Plus it will leave after school times free for OT and word class

The girls remain skeptical but agree. Meanwhile Viola is unsure about the taste of peanut butter puffs (and their creepy resemblance to banana once she picks them up) but one thing is for sure, they are fun to play with!

Savannah: Do we have to go to bed mama

Cassandra: It’s getting late honeybee, and don’t you want to check out the new bunk beds

Mercedes: I call dibs on the bottom one! That way you can still tuck me in mama

Cassandra: *smiles* alright but we need to clean up dinner first

Savannah: I got the plates

Cassandra: Mercedes could you put the leftovers away before they spoil please

Mercedes: Yes mama

Rahul: How do you two like the bunks

Savannah: It’s great papa. I can be up high just like butterflies are

Rahul: Good night rugrats, I love you two

Twins: Goodnight papa

Savannah climbs up to the top and snuggles in while Cassandra tucks Mercedes in.

Cassandra: Goodnight Mercedes. I love you both, have good dreams

Twins: Love you mama

Previous ... Next

[space-woomy]

do you have any AUs for your ocs?

OH BOY DO I~!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(For splat ocs that is)

ALSO!!! saying this now, PLEASE ask me to elaborate on things if you have any questions!!!! I love asks!!!!!

1. Monster AU

Essentially, all of inkling and octoling kind (maybe every species idk) have this gene/virus that slowly mutates them into a monster of some sort, based on their mental state. If your really stressed, you turn into a monster sooner. If you're chill, you'll see little, to no transformation.

I might as well info dump about it here cuz y not.

For most of inkfish existance, they've been afflicted by a virus that turns them into monsters. If you get bitten or scratched, you can get infected basically 95% of the time. It can also be transmitted through sex, and can also be passed onto offspring as well. There's no known cure, but there are pills with reduce both anxiety, stress, and the overall affects of the virus.

The virus had a huge impact on the war. The inkings used monsters in a more direct approach, forcing soilders into high stress situations to force them to mutate faster, and then sends them in to fight. It was effective, however, the octolings had a different strategy. They respected the changes, and would only alow the mutations just a little far. They'd allow soilders to mutate just enough for some of the benefits to take place. Extra strength, odd abilities, extra limbs, etc…

The inklings win the war in the end, and force the octolings underground. This leads into the 2 mentalities regarding the approach towards dealing with the virus.

Octariens take it as more of a divine sort of thing (idk). Changes from the virus are embraced. They don't dilibertly seek out infection, but anything that happens, happens. (Idk exactly how to explain it.) The scientific side is pushed off more.

Inklings treat ot more as a virus alone. A disease to be cured. The mental aspect is pushed off more. All that it comes down to is "don't get stressed and take your pills". The virus is way more linked to one's mental state than everyone thinks.

Anyways, splat 1.

In splat 1, Molly (3) joins the NSS to steal back the zapfish. Molly ran away from home to hopefully find some kind of cure for the virus for themselves. The pills that help with the virus are made from zapfish blood, so maybe helping all of them can maybe lead them to finding a cure. In the end, they find The Great Zapfish after defeating octavio. Its a lot different from the cannon one, and it's more like an ethereal creature, one that a mortal mind cannot comprehend. But before Molly's mind breaks, the Great Zapfish helps by taping one of its long whisker things on their forehead. They can now understand, and not have their mind shatter into nothing when looking at the Great Zapfish. They leave the domes, and Molly stops mutating any further, aside from a few things. Over time, they gain a few Zapfish traits, like a big tail, and those long whiskers.

Splat 2

I don't have much 4 splat 2 honestly. I haven't thought about it that much. But Four is infected, goes through the same and maybe has an identity crisis. Then she realizes that she's in control of herself and is kinda unbothered by the whole turning into a monster thing.

O.E

Three and Eight fight. Three, although the virus is no longer Affecting them, they still carry it, and can infect others. They infect Eight, and they fall into the metro. EIght is essentially on a timer here, because the metro gives MAX stress levels, and Eight is transforming really fast. Cuttlefish is there to help her through it, distracting her with dodging her attacks whenever she gets a bit crazy and talking to her and such, as well . By the end, she has transformed significantly. TarTar tries to blend them, and 3 saves them. TarTar realizes that, "oh shit, they're infected but not changing, weird." So they mind hyjack them. They get mind controlled, but TarTar cant restart the virus in them (G-Zapfish and all).

TarTars motivation here is trying to rid the world of the virus entirely; through killing everything basically. The virus also existed when humans where around.

They Fight, and make it to the surface! Three ends up losing their eye, and has major trauma (As per every Three there is)

Eight transforms even further, after O.E. she grows to be, like, 11 - 12 feet tall. She is also very crazy.

Any types of transformation, zapfish or otherwise, stops entirely due to the sanitization.

splat 3

Neo stumbles upon the NSS through Callie.

One thing that I haven't mentioned about the virus yet is that if 2 parents who have it procreate, and have a child, there is a very slim chance that the child will be completely immune to the virus. very small, but it's there. Captain Cuttlefish, Callie, and Neo are all immune. Marie unfortunately never got this trait.

Grizz is like the Great Zapfish, as in being an almost ethereal/eldritch being of mind breaking properties and comprehension. although compared to the GZ, he's much less so. they defeat him, and then SIde order!!!

Side order: Eight goes through the memverse and has her mind somewhat fixed. Less crazy and less beast like. Still fucking huge though. Here are some doodles I did!!!

These are kinda old

Side order:

The same, but instead of memories or whatever, Marina creates the memverse to hopefully try and restore the minds of those who've lost theirs to the virus. Eight does this, and becomes significantly less insane and crazy.

I've only drawn 3 and 8, so I'll give a basic description of what the others kind of look like.

(I don't have full design ideas for everyone yet so keep that in mind)

Marie:

Marie has progressed an average amount, but has seen significant change. She has 4 arms, 1 extending from the back of each shoulder. She's also very bulky with muscle. She's got sharper teeth as well.

Four:

Four's acceptance of her transformation had definitely helped slow it down, but also helped progress it at the same time. She's got small wings too. 

Neo:

After encountering Grizz, Neo gains a few traits from him. She starts to grow hair, fingernails that grow very sharp, their beak turns more into teeth (canines, mollers, other teeths), etc. It's all pretty minor compared to what most people go through,  but still.

Oh boy that was a lot…next one!!!

2. Splatoon Ultra AU

TBH I have no clue what to call this one, but it's basically like the “EPICtale” of my splatoon ocs (if you get that reference). But essentially, everyone is very strong and shit and everything js crazy. I don't have much for this one but 3 is, like, 7 feet tall. I talked about this before but I deleted that post I think

3. TarTar wins kind of

This is the AU where TarTar was able to fire the beam at inkopolis, but it missed a little. It wasn't world ending, but it permanently affects the world as a whole. This is the AU my “Chaos Seas” fic takes place in. I should work on that again…

Basically, grizzco has become a much needed, but EXTREMELY dangerous job. It's a last resort for people who can't afford housing, and housing is mega important in this world because there are huge storms that last days at a time. I might end up posting the rest of what I have on it ok ao3, and then remake it later. Idk.

If you want me to elaborate on anything or have any questions, please ask!

[eleven441]

The Story 1 🤍💙❤️

Cody Rhodes x Eleven story.

First of all i wanna say congrats to Rhodes once again. And all Roman reigns fans are pathetic why are you crying. You know he couldn't be champion forever. Y'all can stay mad.

Meh he's leaving meh this meh that, can't he do something normal like you know , finally starting a tag team, you know winning the tag titles. Join a Battle royal emg Andrea the Giant. Can win Money in the bank idk.

Stuff like that , it's fun. But noooo no championship you just leave anyway it's giving petty vibes.

He's now as good as someone like Ricochet, or Kofi Kingston. The Underdog never had a problem. I LOOOOOVVVVED THE UNDERDOG. But ever since he became the tribal chief and had brown eyes.... Ugh.

Soo to the story....

★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★

So in this story Cody is 28, Jey 25 and Seth 26.

Cody still has brown hair. And Seth black.

Ok umm

Me

🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣

Hi my name is Eleven I'm 25 and i am one of the biggest WWE superstars yet. I live with my brother Jey Uso🙄. With his friends Cody and Seth. And also with my best friend Becky. In a real big house.

I have another brother named Jimmy you know his stage name. But we don't live with him, due to some "personal reasons". We've been going through alotta ups and downs in the Anoa'i family. We'll get into that later.

Jey is an annoying Wild Card , who could be bothering me for no reason. He just comes and takes my chips. He uses my equipment without asking and he is always yelling.

Seth is very toxic in a funny way. He is always making these offensive jokes in serious situations like at funerals. He is a real foodie, i stash up the whole pantry and fridge with food, next morning poof it's gone.

Then we have Cody...Coooodeeey ......CO-D

Umm yeah we don't talk at all I don't even think he likes me. I guess i can't tell because whenever we're in the same room. It's just an akward silence. I am kinda crushing on him especially when he walks in without a shirt. But i ignore my feelings and let it slide.

...

Today Jey and Seth were out running errands for this week's upcoming SmackDown. I was in the gym busting my ass off. Cody was with me, but he was like literally on the other side of the room. It was total akward silence from there.

All he said coming in was a quiet hi. Then he went to his business. What weirded me out the most is how I could feel eyes on me. I felt bright blue eyes on my skin and for some reason it stung. I decided to ignore it and lift some weights but i was failing.

My brother Jey usually gives me a spot. But now that he ain't here it's gonna be hard. I wasn't expecting anything from Cody at all.

"Y-You need help with that?"i heard his soft voice gently echoing from the other side of the room. I was in shock just thinking of what Cody said. "Umm yeah yeah" i answered back. He came over to me snd stood behind me, to help me lift. The idea of squatting Infront of him made me uncomfortable.

He made sure i didn't hurt myself. ".....25! Woof that was one work out!" I said. "Thanks" i said softly fluttering my eyes. He smirked at me , with sparkling eyes. "Don't mention it" with that he walked off into the distance.

Thursday....

Seth , Jey, Cody and i went ot waffle house to have breakfast. Once we were there we so a real fat guy tryna get through the doors. "HEY! WHY DON'T YOU LOSE SOME WEIGHT!!!" Seth yelled. "Seth!" Jey and i hissed. All Cody did was chuckle, and shake his head then went through the other side of the door.

I had to answer a call from an Unknown number

Hello?

Oh hi, Elé....

Who the fuck , is this?

Liv Morgan ofcourse

(Ugh bitch)

Why the living fuck do you want?

Nothing , nothing, just let Jey know his time is almost up.

Leave my brother alone.!!!!! Hello he-hello?

Ugh i put my phone in my pocket and entered.

Seth and Jey were sitting next to each other. Which left me with Cody... He looke at me with a small smile and bright eyes. I sat next to him knowing it was ok.

Seth and Jey went to order and now Cody and i were left alone. That fat giy came back and bardged through the doors , he had a cake, sadly the hit the floor him too.... "NOOOOOOO , I WAS GONNA EAT THAT" He said , i could bear Seth laughing from the counter.

"Well you don't see that every day"Cody finally said with a small smile. "Yeah"i added on."We don't talk much"Cody said softly. "Yeah , we really don't...." I responded.

"would you like to join me at SmackDown"he asked.I eas surprised. "Yes , id love too" i smiled. "I love you" he whispered."What?" I asked. "Umm i want stew" he said.

After that Jey n Seth came with our food.

I guess i wasn't meeting Bianca and Naomi on their segment. Oh well ...

Story continues...

@alyyaanna @codyrhodesnet-blog @jeyusos-girl @wwe

[darkisrising]

⭐

(But also I'm greedy and if you want to do Never Leaving Well Enough Alone, I have a special soft spot for that one since it's one of the first ones of yours I ever read.)

(link to game if anyone wants to play)

Sure thing, friend! Never Leaving Well Enough Alone was one of my first attempts at writing in the Mandalorian world. My friend @treescape was writing dinluke and was talking about how active the ship was (back in those early days, circa 2021). Since I was writing quiobi where we were small but very engaged, I was intrigued by this phenomenon of hordes of ppl reading a single fic at once, but made the off hand comment that I doubted I was good for writing any other ship, since I'd only just returned to writing fanfic and still was in my painfully insecure era. But then she said something along the line of (back then) there being very little explicit content for the ship (oooooooh how the tables have turned on THAT lmaoo) and I had this moment of "well... I can write sex at the very least?" so my first few dinluke I went into them with the very clear objective to sex them up more than the landscape at the time was doing, since I *think* if I recall that the emphasis on the ship back then was more on Luke as a potential second dad for Grogu... very romancing the single dad vibes... and mando was essentially one big walking chastity belt.

NLWEA was basically me throwing a chunk of sex into the ship, and then I was gonna run away and hide. At least, that was my plan. So it's a 5+1 time structure, with the idea that they kept running into each other, and then at some point they would have sex. That's... pretty much it. I knew Luke because I went through a hard core OT phases back when the OT was re-released, and I like my Luke as the mouthy Tattooine "what a hunk of junk" farmboy so that's what I wanted to play with in this one. Han's ride or die. Leia's headache of a trouble-magnet brother. I don't think I'd even managed to watch all the episodes of Mando season 1 when I wrote this, let alone 2, but I liked the eternally exhausted freelancer in a gig economy bounty hunter we first meet in the show and figured meh. Why not give it a whirl? The sheer shock of waking up from throwing a post up on ao3 and getting the kudos email the next day. I mean. I can't overstress how MANY readers there were back then. Just. Mindbreaking amounts. I went from quiobi where a hundred kudos was like "oh man, yes, yay, I'm so proud of myself" to just. *hundreds* upon hundreds at once. It was... well. Yeah. Addictive to chase that validation. That's probably not what you're supposed to say when it comes to writing fic, that you got swept up in the attention, but it is what it is. I did. And it was very *very* fun to be participating in a fandom like that, when there's interest and energy, and so so so SO many talented people working at once at a frantic pace. It was such a rush.

I wrote without a really clear idea of where the story was going, except for the structure. As I wrote I was also watching the last few episodes of Mando season 2, and when I watched the episodes with cgi Luke I was like oh huh this isn't really the Luke I remember at all. Part of the lack of affectation was the cgi, but I liked the idea of trying to thread the needle between young Luke and Jedi "stoically driven by the force" Luke, so that's where chapter 4 changes mood from hijinks Luke to reserved Luke. And then, that let me have some fun with the idea that Luke was so consumed/inebriated with the force he absolutely didnt recognize Din from his younger days. Which made the reveal that Din knew extra fun to play with in the next chapter. Chapter 5 also happens to be the first time I wrote Boba Fett, and may *that* be noted by the historians, because I fell in deep, deep love with that man from that moment on. Which eventually led us to the BobaDinLuke stuff that took over my life for the last few years 😆

[heavenlyhoundoom]

Me roasting Galar.

Grookey: Monke.

Thwackey: What's with them frog legs?

Rillaboom: What can I say except "you're welcome!

Scorbunny: Hello, cheese face.

Raboot: How much dye and grooming do you have to do to make your fur look like a hoodie?

Cinderace: This looks more like a soccer(football for those outside of the US) mascot.

Sobble: How are you not dehydrated after how much you cry?

Drizzle: Emo!!!!

Inteleon: And the award for worst final starter evolution design goes to...

Skwovet: You might want to lay off the curry before you grow a gut.

Greedent: And, it's too late.

Rookidee, Corvisquire, and Corvinight: How does it feel to be demoted from apex predator to hammer material for a bunch of pink orcs?

Blipbug, Dottler, and Orbettle: Does anyone else keep forgetting that Blipbug isn't bug/psychic like its evolutions?

Nickit and Thievul: It's called a hustle, sweetheart.

Glossifleur and Eldegoss: These pokemon definitely look related(sarcasm).

Wooloo and Dubwool: If I had a nickel every time a normal type final evolution was extremely overshadowed by their pre-evolution, I'd have two nickels. Which isn't a lot, but it's weird it happened twice(the first being bibarel being overshadowed by bidoof).

Chewtle: How is it able to balance itself with that big head?

Drednaw: Don't put your fingers near its mouth.

Yamper: Can't roast perfection.

Boltund: What a downgrade.

Rolycoly and Carkol: Ot seems like they're gonna evolve into a trian.

Coalossal: Never mind. It's just another generic rock monster. What a disappointing letdown.

Applin, Flapple, and Apppletun: Mmmm...apples...

Silicobra and Sandaconda: Behold, sand snakes!

Cramorant: How are you stupid enough to not realize when you're choking!?

Arrokuda and Barraskewda: Leave me alone!!!!

Toxel: You're so ugly, but in a cute way.

Toxtricity: Does strumming your growths hurt?

Sizzlipede: Forbidden fruit roll-up.

Centiskorch: Bigger forbidden fruit roll-up

Clobbopus: I wonder if it punches fish pokemon out of spite.

Grapploct: Why are you so fucking slow!?

Sinistea and Polteageist: The most british pokemon.

Hatenna: How are you able to see?

Hattrem: So, do you walk with your hair?

Hatterene: The most sociopathic pokemon.

Impidimp, Morgrem, and Grimmsnarl: Why are the first dark/fairy type pokemon so ugly!?

Obstagoon: Insert Kiss reference here.

Perrserker: "That's a weird looking fucking cat!

Cursola: This is why we need to stop polluting the ocean!

Sirfetch'd: There's only one evolution method more convoluted than yours.

Mr. Rime: Hello, Charlie Chaplin.

Runerigus: As Michael once said, "How is anyone supposed to figure out this method without the internet!?"

Milcery: It looks like an udder.

Alcreamie: Mmmm...Wipped cream...

Falinks: More like Faillinks!

Pincurchin: What if pyukumuku was slightly more useful, but only slightly...

Snom and Frosmoth: The bidoof and bibarel of the bug type.

Stonjourner and Eiscue: These counterparts are the most obvious walking gimmicks.

Indeedee: The most gimmicky pokemon with gender differences.

Morpeko: The most "hashtag relatable" pikaclone.

Cufant and Copperajah: I thought we were in the UK, not India.

Dracozolt, Arctozolt, Dracovish, and Arctovish: And this is why you don't just put fossil parts together all willy-nilly.

Dreepy: Ghost lizard.

Drakloak and Dragapult: Do I need to call CPS for child endangerment?

Zacian and Zamazenta: Armour doggos.

Eternatus: Spooky scary skeletons!

Kubfu and Urshifu: I wonder why they gave these pokemon a gender ratio(I'm genuinely curious).

Zarude: They are probably the most forgettable mythical.

Regieleki and Regidrago: Did we really need anymore Regis(I'm just joking).

Glastrier and Spectier: You can either have a beautiful gothic equestrian phantom or boring ice horse.

Calyrex: One bug bite, and you're dead.

[stupidstpuidstupditpstupid]

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 15 2025

alright i'm going to try and use this as a diary so i can keep focused on work and also keep my brain from going in sane and keep from bothering my bofyirne d. we will see how long this lasts (probably not long because it feels weird and i don't keep up most habits)

but maybe it'll help me push out the intrustive thoughts and the shitty thoughts and the ones i want to tell someone but don't want anyone to know i am thinking!!!!!!!! like that i watnt ot die most of the time even tho i don't. i'm so glad i don't have panic attacks and that i don't freak the fuck out over everything but like ......... i'm still not Happy and not only do i feel shitty about that, i also feel guilty because my life is significantly better. how good is it supposed to be? how do i know when i'm becoming too selfish. what if i forget i want to be a good and generous person. down to earth and reasonable and chill because it makes things easier. is that worth being down to earth and reasonable all the time? perhaps not

i wish i didn't think so hard about everything so much. i wonder if i'd be more normal if i never took acid. i still have an ounce of mushrooms in my bedroom i haven't touched

like why do i have reoccurring dreams about being rejected by my high school best friend. why do i always have dreams about people rejecting me or not liking me or me feeling out of place in a big fancy world. always somewhere i'm not supposed to be. ohhhhh

maybe i get it a little

i think god and my gut have told me that i need to leave this place to be my best self but FUCK I HATE CHANGE

i still have the urge to bash my head against a wall or smmack myeself or just die

wish i could just die tbh because i don't believe i'll ever be happy. i don't believe i'm congruent with this life and i don't believe i belong here an di don't believe i have the tools to succeed. i just don't

the only reason i'm not dead is because i have leisure time but god fuck i am dyign in side all the time. i'm just miserable in new ways. the better i get the harder it would be to kill myself because i am now putting myself back out into the world and people would notice if i left. stupid stuipd thing i did there. i wish i could be alone

it's so annoying that 30 mins later i'm soothign myselef and saying it's a fine day and i'tll be fine and i just need to get thru the day. why can't i be like this all the time. why can't my brain and feelings SHUT UPPPPPPPPP AND JUST LET ME BE BORING!!!!!! I DON'T LIKE HATING MYSELF I DON'T LIKE HATING MY LIFE AND WANTING TO DIE GOD DAMMIT

I'M OFF BALANCE TODAY AND IT'S A BAD DAY TO TRY AND MAKE DECISIONS OR CONSIDER MAJOR LIFE CHANGES. I'M ONLY FEELING THIS WAY BECAUSE I FEEL SHITTY IN THIS MOMENT BUT I'LL BE OKAY !!!! I AM OKAY!!!!!!!!!! I'M MORE THAN MY STUPID JOB

[ere-the-sun-rises]

I've got a bone to pick with the dude in the screenshot. Here's some of the reasons his words reveal he's a chode:

He "runs a school", does he? That means he's a high-end administrator, either in the school itself or in the school board (if its a public school) and does not actually have direct interaction with students on a consistent basis (or at all).

When he says that, he's implying he oversees teachers or students or both. If he was a teacher or had been one, he would know that being a teacher is a fuckload of work and would not be dismissive of them. If he had interactions with students like teachers do, he would know students generally don't shirk their work. If he's referring to both, he's a douchebag who looks down on his colleagues and their pupils.

A school (of any kind) is arguably the LAST place you would find workshy layabouts. Teachers, even shitty ones, work incredibly hard to do their jobs for a comparatively small amount of pay, especially considering the amount of work they do which they don't get paid for (clubs, after-hours tutoring, at-home grading, etc).

Students are not lazy. They intake a deluge of information on multiple subjects for 6+ hours a day, do work and homework and have to time-manage it. A lot of them also have extracurriculars they balance against the workload and exhaustion. They are also children, forced into environments that are not usually overly pleasant, possibly with people they don't like, for prolonged periods of time where they can't move around and are required to concentrate all the time. An adult forced into an equivalent of that work would crack under the pressure.

"The human impulse to not do anything" Really, my good man? So where did you find all this spare time to observe the unwashed masses of you were so fucking busy all the time, hmm? Tell me why you were at the Devil's Sacrament, Austen.

Also, actually, yeah! Humans do need downtime! We're a predator species - we're meant to lay around when we're full and content and nap in the sun. Every other top or near-top predator does this: big cats, wolves, whales, sharks, they all have time off where they just mess around. Go ask a biology teacher, if you can summon the spare time to do so.

Human beings, when given sufficient rest and free time, will find things to do. Tribal culture is a perfect example, go ask the history teacher aboit it. Native American tribes would do all kinds of maintenance work in their downtime - fixing things, weaving baskets, creating/mending clothing, teaching others these chores, passing down oral histories, blending paints, making beads, you name it. Nothing but necessity and desire compelled these activities ans if modern humans were given a chance, they would do the same.

An attitude like this one only comes from privilege. Anyone who's been raised poor or working class knows how fucking much of your life is taken up by work, chores and maintenance labour. Someone has to make money, do laundry, make food, clean the house. None of this goes anywhere if you don't do it. You don't have the money to pay for it to be done ot support a spouse who will do it instead (and they're working too, just not for pay). You get to sit up there, away from the daily toil, and pontificate on how the masses laze about when given enough leave to do so. How dare they?! How dare they not turn themselves into the meat grinder for a few more pennies?! What use is a family and friendships and hobbies if they haven't got excess money laying about?

That's what it's all about, right, Austen? Pleasure and leisure are for the rich and the rich alone. The poor should indenture themselves and praise the opportunity to work until they drop dead for the scraps they are given. They do not deserve to know human interaction outside of their coworkers and bosses, so see their job less than they see their home. What use do children find in play when they could be shackled to their desk for the entire daylight cycle? Are you peasants not thankful?

Oh? Is that not what you believe? Then why is that what you're saying?

My least favorite things about anti- UBI discourse is always the techbros whining that "nobody is going to work anymore! People will just watch Netflix all day!" and I have 2 responses:

1) Who the fuck cares. Who the fuck cares what people do with their time! That's kind of the fucking point!

2) People aren't going to stop laboring. Housework (look, it's right there in the word!) will still need to be done. So will maintenance on our homes and personal spaces. Children will still need carers, as will the elderly and disabled. There are millions of examples of ~work~ that we do all the time, uncompensated, that won't suddenly stop because we aren't forced to sell our labor to provide corporation's profits.

I'm not surprised that what is traditionally women's work is invisible to these dipshits, but it never fails to anger me.

Anyway. Join the IWW.

[lattefanficcafe]

Twisted Wonderland Diasomnia Family Learns About Anya Like MC’s Powers

You tried so hard to keep your powers as a secret. Even from your family.

But at the same time… You… wanted to tell them the truth.

But what if they hate you? What if they abandon you after that?

You love your family so much.

You don’t want them to leave you at the orphanage just like the previous ‘parents’ who adopted you.

They all left you alone at the orphanage.

But then… You remembered a memory with Tsunotarou.

You remembered the moment he told you that he was a dragon.

“Please don’t be afraid of me child of a man. I won’t harm you no matter what. I will protect you just like your father.”

He was afraid too… You knew because you can read minds.

( I heard that little children are afraid of dragons… Will MC be afraid of me after I tell her the truth? I don’t want her to be afraid of me.)

Then you remembered the moment your father told you that he was a fae.

And then you remembered that one time Sebek confessed that he was a half fae.

Everyone told you their secrets. Their insecurities.

Maybe you should do that too.

Maybe you should open up to your family about your worries.

You decided to tell them the truth at the end.

Lilia Vanrouge

First…You wanted to tell this to your father.

“Chi chi.”

“Hm? What’s wrong MC? You look troubled.”

“MC wants to…confess something.”

“…Did you do something wrong?”

“…I kept a secret from you chi chi.”

“A secret?”

“MC thought that…everyone would hate MC if they learn about this. MC is… MC is a telepath.”

“Telepath? What is that?”

“I can read minds.”

“Oh? Is that so?”

( He will abandon MC… right?)

“Fufufu… Interesting.”

“…Huh?”

“I never knew my daughter had a talent like that.”

“You… You are… not abandoning me?”

“…Abandoning you? Now what are you saying? Why would I abandon my daughter?”

“We are still a family…?”

“Of course we are. And MC. Thank you for opening up to me. When you have troubles don’t be afraid to tell them to me okay? You can also tell to your big brother. But know this. We won’t abandon you MC. No matter what you will always be my daughter.”

You felt your eyes tear up.

But those were happiness tears.

Your father accepted you even as a telepath.

Lilia gave you a big hug and patted your back.

You were so glad to open up to him.

You don’t have to hide something from him anymore. That made you feel more relax.

Now… You have to tell this to your big brother.

Silver and Sebek Zigvolt

When you found Silver he was practicing his sword skills with Sebek.

“Big brother.”

“Oh? Hey MC. Your eyes… Did you cry?”

“What?! Who made little lady cry?! That shall pay the consequences!”

“Calm down Sebek. What happened MC?”

“Big brother. Sebek. MC needs to tell you something.

“Sure. Go on.”

“MC is a… telepath.”

“A telepath?”

“That means MC can read minds.”

“What?! Little lady can do that?!”

“…You can read minds?”

“Yeah…”

“Why did you hide it from us?”

“I was scared that…you would hate me.”

“What?…”

“Hmph! Ridiculous! I would never hate little lady no matter what!”

“MC…That won’t be happening in anytime okay? You are my little sister. Nothing can change that fact.”

“Thank you…”

You hugged your big brother.

And then you hugged Sebek.

“You know… That talent of yours can be considered as a magic.”

Your eyes lighted up at his statement.

“Really?”

“Yeah. Who knows? Maybe this is your unique magic. That is a useful unique magic. You can read the opponents mind and know their next attack.”

“Our little lady is a talented one of course!”

You never thought it that way.

“Then I will study hard and become a powerful magician! Just like chi chi and Tsunotarou!”

“I know that you can do it MC.”

“You have to study hard if you want to reach Waka-sama’s level!”

“Yes! I will do my best!”

Malleus Draconia

After you said goodbye to Silver and Sebek you started to look for Tsunotarou.

Luckily you found him in a short time.

“Tsunotarou.”

“Hello child of a man.”

“MC have to tell something to you.”

“Is that so?”

“MC is a telepath. So MC can read minds of other people.”

“…You are truly full of surprises child of a man. And… I am glad that you feel comfortable enough to share your secret with me.”

“MC feels the same way too. MC already knew that you were a dragon from the beginning but…if you, chi chi and Sebek didn’t tell their secrets to me I wouldn’t find enough courage to tell mine.”

“Do you hate your power? Is that why you didn’t want to tell anyone.”

“No. MC likes her powers. It’s just that… MC thought no one would like to be friends with Mc once they found out that MC is a telepath.”

“…”

“MC also were afraid that MC’s family would abandon MC. So… I kept it as a secret. Until now.”

“Lilia wouldn’t abandon you no matter what.”

“Yes. He told me that when I told my secret to him. I am so glad that he accepts MC as his daughter even though MC is a telepath.”

“You should know that there is nothing wrong with you being a telepath. It’s not a bad thing. Your friends wouldn’t leave you just for that. And if they do that means they were not a real friend to begin with.”

“Maybe MC should tell her secret to the friends that MC trusts.”

“Why not? I am sure that they will accept you the way you are.”

You hugged Malleus.

He was used to your sudden hugs so he started to pat your head.

He was so glad that he was one of those friend you trusted.

“Thank you for trusting me enough MC.” He thought.

You looked at him with a big smile.

“You are welcome Tsunotarou.”

Hi everyone! Latte here! Hope you enjoyed this fanfic! If you have any requests you can ask me!

[freestyle-crocodile-trashpile]

How about some competition? Rise!Turtles's crush has an "admirer" who has been quite pushy about getting their attention and convincing them to hang out. How would they react anf feel about this? BONUS SCENE: s/o cut the jerk politely and said "Look, I'm flattered that you're interested on me, really... But I already have someone I really like"

A/n: this is gonna be fun. Thank you for requesting.

Summary: the turtle boys have a bit of a compilation

Version: rise

Raphael

Was upset when he heard that you had someone have a crush you but mainly because they was pushy about it

He hated hearing you talk about how your admirer had asked to to hang out but wouldn't take no as an answer but always glad you got out of he

And if you needed some comfort because if your admirer he would be their for you

He would always try to help but since he can't really show himself he would just have go give advice that might ot work and listen because that's all he can really do

So he tried his best and would always be their for you but it hurt to do so

Since he had a crush on you he found it difficult and got insecure sometime thinks 'what if they go if their admirer' he tired not to think like that but it was hard sometimes

But he was so happy when you told him that you finally told the person you were flatter but didn't like them like that and they took it as an answer

He was so happy and maybe he could actually get with you but he didn't say anything

So you would have to make the first move and who knows maybe you did

Donatello

He was not having it

At first he was just a little hurt but then he got pissed

When he heard that this admirer was pretty pushy and wouldn't leave you alone he wanted to hack into his phone and try and stop him

He didn't you wouldn't let him

So he sat back and gave the best advice he could and was always their to lend a helping hand

And if you go though a hard time because of this admirer he would be there for you

He was ready to fight this guy and get leo in on it but you again stopped him and said you got this

And he believed you

But it hurt to do so

Him having to sit back knowing some person is probably flirting with you and trying to make you theirs hurt him

He knew you to weren't together but that didn't stop him from being in pain from it

So he just sat back and tried to help as best as you would let him

So imagine his happiness when you could over and told him you got rid of your admirer

He was glad a but upset you did it nicely but glad nonetheless

And not long after he asked you out

And to his surprise you said yes and yeah next time he is going to do more about your admirer that isn't him but until then he will talk about science and do his eyebrows

Michelangelo

Was more honest about his feeling

He did tell you he didn't really like it and it made him sad but tried to make it subtle in a way

He was always there for you but he couldn't come on you with his feelings

He wanted to but all he could do is just sit back and hope you notice

You did and asked what was wrong and he explained how he was a bit upset about your admirer

He was happy when you said you would try and do something about it

And ever day he would hope that you would tell him you got the person off your back but it wasn't that easy

But when it happened he was happy

He had a really big smile knowing that your stress free well at least from that person

So he celebrated with you but you were confused why

So when you asked he told you that he had a crush on you and it hurt him knowing you had a admirer

And with his luck his said you had a crush on him to

And again he was super happy

And he's he had his hopes high that this day would come

But hey have you seen yourself? It makes since

Leonardo

Was really bummed out

But he knew he couldn't do much

So he just had to be their for you and he didn't

But it didn't hurt him to much cause he knew he still had a chance

But until you rejected the guy he just had to sit back and watch

But knowing he had a chance doesn't mean this didn't hurt him

But he tried not to think about it to much and hey its working for the most part but hey it's alright

So he was relieved everytime you said you didn't like the person like that so he always was ready

And a couple does before you finally told your admirer you didn't like them

Leo confessed to you

You were shocked he was scared and it went smoothly

He finally knew fully you were his and he was yours so he was glad knowing that admirer didn't have a chance hopefully

And he was right because a couple days latter you came in says the admirer has been told you don't like them like that

Leo was pleased about that and was also glad you were happy about it

Kinda surprised when you told him you let your admirer down nicely but hey at least it worked

A/n: i hope you enjoyed and sorry if some of them sre shorter than the others

[father-time-and-baby-new-year]

happy 200! i’m so glad to see your blog grow, it’s one of my favorites and i adore all your writing. i’ve never cried so much and i love the kind of unsettling feeling you write in your fics, it’s perfect in the category of yandere and dark content. in particular, i loved your drabble about shigaraki mourning over a dead reader and i’ve reread that one too many times to count haha! as for asks for headcannons and drabbles, it would be amazing to see that with bully!eren especially since he was such an awful person to the reader. i’d love to see him suffer honestly, but if you don’t want to write it, that’s completely fine! once again, i’m so proud of you for hitting 200! that’s such a huge milestone and hopefully, there will be many more in the future! :)

SYNOPSIS: bully!Eren has to navigate the world without you.

Pairing: Bully!Eren x Fem!Reader

A/N: I can't even explain in words how much I CHEESED at this message like my grin was ear to ear. can't explain how many times I read this. It singlehandedly made my day anon, and to repay you for my happiness....here is some angst. this is a slightly different route than the shiggy one but I hope it still suits you <3

TW: mentions of death, past dubcon/noncon, mentions of trauma, bullying, alcohol addiction, drunk driving, abusive behavior, revenge porn, nonconsensual photography/videography, mentions of infidelity, angst, so much of angst, violent behavior

WC: 2.5k

It's not like Eren had been doing a lot of soul-searching. He's not delusional enough to label his half-assed epiphany of "maybe I'm a shitty person" as soul searching.

It's just the conversation with his very sick mother burned holes through the back of his mind. Carla had asked about you and why you don't come by the house anymore. How she missed baking with you in the kitchen, and how you sweetly smiled whenever you would see soft creamy peaks form in the meringue.

Eren felt like he was swallowing needles as he assured his mother with false truths, that nothing was going on and distance between childhood friends is natural, and if it means so much--ok ok he'll bring you over.

He stays until he sees her chest slowly rising and falling into a gentle asleep. He touches the tip of his ears, unsurprised by how hot it was.

Eren, when you tell a lie, the tips of your ears turn red.

You're not at school the next day. Or the day after that. Or the day after that.

Guilt is not an emotion he feels often but the events of the past weekend replay in his mind. It was just a dumb party that Floch threw, and he was surprised to find you cornered by a trio of thee dunderheads. Like a distorted fairytale, he swept you away from the bad guys like a knight in shining armor, to only shove you in an empty room and demand compensation for playing hero.

Fuck, with that big mouth, you would think that you'd know how to suck cock.

Use your tongue stupid slut. If you use teeth, I'll shove this dick in your ass without any prep.

No, I don't care, you're taking all of it.

There's a video on his camera roll. How could he not record it? You're sobbing, mascara running down your cheeks, looking so beautiful and ruined with jizz smeared at the corner of your mouth. He was brutally fucking your mouth, making you take all of his length.

Breathe through your nose dumb whore. Or else you're gonna run out of air.

You were pleading with whatever garbled sounds you were constricted into producing.

Breathe through your fucking nose. This is for your sake. Otherwise, I don't mind face fucking your lifeless body. You'd be more useful that way anyways.

Eren is conflicted with muting the video because he can't stand to hear himself like that. But he didn't want to miss out on your pitiful whines.

He remembers the distraught expression on your face when he was finally done with you. He tucked himself inside, and sneered, "I've got a girl coming here. Get lost." You looked so fucking distraught. Why? All he did was make you suck his dick. He didn't even fuck you.

He should have. Eren thinks grimly when he stares at your empty desk on the first day you didn't show up to school. He's gotten off to the video more than enough times than he can count over the weekend, and he was aching to see your pretty face twisted into a terrorized expression when he flipped up your skirt to grope your ass.

Kindly, Eren decides he'd allow you to have a rest day. But the second day, Eren pays a visit to your house finding it dark and locked, like no one was home and hadn't been there for a while.

On the third day, you're declared missing.

Your incompetent workaholic mother who finally came home and decided to give a damn reported you missing to the authorities who had scratched their heads because as far as they knew, the pivotal 72 hours were up.

Paradis was surrounded by forests. No one wanted to say it, but they were all thinking it. If you got lost in there, chances are you wouldn't make it out.

Eren wasn't always this admired and fawned over. He had his fair share of behavioral issues that frightened people (not you though, not then at least, not when you were children, and you still came back every day to play).

But when he channeled that anger into sports, there was somewhat of a star in the making, especially for some small-town boy. He was becoming extremely popular, and that's nice and all, but at the end of the day, he has a mother whose health was taking a sharp decline. He was constantly under stress, stress that he took out on you.

Where did his favorite stress-ball go?

It's all fucking surreal. Having detectives in the school. Not that there were many students to question (because christ, did you even have any friends after Eren turned everyone against you?).

Eren was questioned. He can't help but mirthfully chuckle. Maybe this was your grand plan, maybe you were able to finally sort out a mountain of evidence against him. If you were going to fuck him over, didn't you want to see it happen with your own two eyes?

The dark-haired boy wishes that was true. If you had gotten your revenge, would you be here? No, revenge isn't the right word. If you got any justice for what he made you suffer, would you come back?

Hi, I'm Detective Hange. I would like to ask you some questions today. You're Eren Yeager, right?

Yes, that's me.

How do you know ___?

We were childhood friends. We're uh, we're not as close anymore.

When was the last time you saw her?

Friday night at Floch's party-

-Floch Forster right? There were a number of kids there from your school.

Yeah. It was a big party. She uh, doesn't usually come to parties but she was there that night.

You were the last person to be seen with her. Other kids have said that they saw you and her entering a room together, and then only her leaving the said room.

[Sigh] Yeah we sorta...hooked up.

I thought you said you guys weren't close anymore.

You can be not close to someone and still hook up with them.

But you guys were close once right?

Yeah. Once.

The dark-haired boy asks if he was under any suspicion. The detective waves their hand in a dismissive gesture, “If her diary tells us anything, it’s only that she really liked you.”

Were detectives even allowed to divulge that sort of information? Eren doesn’t know but the stray detail that they offered off-handedly made him feel like he was swallowing needles.

At that point, Eren honestly still doesn't believe you're gone. You had a habit of running away, even when you were little kids, but you always came back.

Still, he participates in the search parties with a renewed vigor, even going alone in the forest with a flashlight on most nights.

And he's just so fucking tired. The darkest crevice of his mind almost wishes you were dead because this ignorance was just agony. Almost. Because he still clings to the feeling that one day, he’ll stroll into class and find you in your seat in the back of the class, looking out the window like some cliche shojo manga protagonist.

There are folders and folders on his phone. Albums. The most recent one is dedicated to your crying face as you were choking on his dick. Earlier albums are composed of creepshots of your panties, of that obscene o-face, of your skirt flipped up and your ass cheeks, pictures of your cleavage, videos of you thrashing as he dunked your head into toilets like a villainous middle school bully.

Pictures of your neck covered in hickeys, your naked breasts, ass cheeks striped with red after getting spanked, your leaking cunt, just endless and endless media dedicated to pieces and pieces of your body like you were never a whole person.

The earliest ones though tell a different tale, from off-guards to your drooling face as you napped in the middle of the day.

He has a favorite picture. Your eyes are watery from the cold, snowflakes stuck between lashes, nose and cheeks flushed red, and you're smiling. Smiling right to the camera. Right at him.

"Eren, are you taking a picture?" You asked, bouncing in place, giddy that it was finally snowing.

"Not of you, shut up. Get out of the way." His voice is gruff but not harsh.

You laughed and jumped into frame anyway, and the bright streetlamp behind you made you seem like you were wearing a halo.

He wishes he had more pictures of you being...yourself. Because now your crying face displayed over countless pixels haunt him. But like a fucking degenerate, he still jerks off to all the nudes he coerced from you. Sometimes he cries when he's jerking off which is probably the most pathetic thing he's ever done. This is what you've reduced him to.

He hates the sound of his own voice.

Breathe through your fucking nose. This is for your sake. Otherwise, I don't mind face fucking your lifeless body. You'd be more useful that way anyways.

Eren goes through the motions of life without really feeling like he's in the moment. Seasons change and time flies. His mother dies, and his withdrawn father dies a year later. He proposes to Mikasa because it's something he was always supposed to do. She loves him unconditionally, so even when he doesn't put any effort into the relationship but proposes, she says yes hoping he'll change and be a good husband.

He doesn't go to his parents' funerals because they're already dead. What's the point. He doesn't visit the candlelight vigils in your honor either. After tearing his ACL again and a somewhat traumatic injury, he kisses his pro-football career goodbye. To be totally honest, he's relieved. Because he had gotten quite bored, and maybe he was looking for excuses to quit the entire time. It's not like you'd be cheering on the bleachers anyways.

Mikasa has an affair, more out of a desire to see her fiancé feel something for her as opposed to any burning lust. But when she asks him if he's ever cared at all, with tears springing out of her eyes, he's just calmly drinking his fifth of whisky.

The dark-haired man doesn't even look up, "Let's break up."

"Is this about her, huh? Fucking get over it already Eren. She's GONE. And you have some big fucking audacity moping about her death like you weren't making her cry in the bathroom stalls every fucking day you piece of shit."

"Get out."

"You know what, I bet she killed herse-"

SMASH

The dark-haired woman doesn't finish her rant because the whiskey bottle smashes on the wall next to her head, sending glass everywhere and staining the carpet amber. She's unharmed, knowing it wasn't Eren's intention to hit her but Jesus Christ, what a monster.

She packs her bags and leaves the town like she should have a long time ago. All her friends had left years before and she stayed behind because that's where Eren was. She thanks her lucky stars that they didn't marry.

It's funny because he had always imagined himself being the first to move out of their small town, but he's the one staying. He can't leave this place. feels too tethered to ever leave. Every diner and liquor store is saturated with memories of you. He remembers buying cigarettes and exhaling the smoke to your face to piss you off in empty parking lots.

Maybe he stays in case you'll come back.

Eren's days consist of alcohol-fueled hazes. He doesn't know how his liver is still functioning. He doesn't know he's still alive after crashing his car into a tree when he was drunk out of his mind. He was on his way to get some more vodka.

He barely recognizes himself in the mirror anymore, not that he looks at himself much. His hair is long, nestled around his shoulder because he couldn't be bothered to cut it, dark circles under viridian eyes, and a perpetual stubble on his jaw.

His parents had left quite a sizable inheritance so there's no need to work but he's good with his hands. Likes crafting up birdhouses and cabinets, and occasionally does odd jobs around the neighborhood, never charging the elderly.

He's under the sink, tinkering with a wrench against the pipes when he hears the old lady coo at him.

"We're so lucky to have you Eren. I'm surprised a handsome young man like yourself doesn't have a special lady. The girls must be lining up at your door!"

The dark-haired man winces, and offers no comment, knowing that that the older lady was susceptible to long tangents.

"You know, we're getting a new neighbor." Eren grunts as a response. "They're young, I've heard. Isn't that exciting? Oh my, Eren! I think they're gonna be living in the house right next to yours..."

He tunes out the rest of the conversation because doesn't really care. He just hopes his new neighbors are quiet.

It's Sunday noon when obnoxious noises of moving trucks and people wake him up from his deep slumber. Eren's annoyed to wake up despite the fact he's probably been sleeping over 15 hours. He oscillates between getting too much sleep and getting none, his sleeping habits completely dependent on his dreams.

His nightmares are too visceral, visions of your corpse asking him if he'd enjoyed hollowing your soul with his teeth.

His dreams are achingly sweet. You in your prom gown, shining so iridescently like diamonds were sewn into the silk. He's dancing with you, holding you close, and then after you guys go to your favorite diner and gorge on burgers and milkshakes.

There's a peal of distinctly feminine laughter that stirs up Eren's senses. He's so pathetic, was the mere sound of a woman laughing getting him excited?

He sighs. He thinks of the whore he's frequently visited because of her resemblance to you. Hair color, skin color, face shape--with enough alcohol, he could really convince the person beneath him, was you. Maybe it's time to give her a call, but she's gotten so fucking needy and he hated how her voice didn't match yours.

The green-eyed man peers from the lace curtains, irritated by the brats playing on his lawn. A full family next door? Great, just what he needs.

The friendly knock on his door breaks him out of his daze. He contemplates whether he should answer but on the second more muted knock, he lets his feet guide him.

He turns the knob.

And Eren Yeager completely shatters.

Because it's you isn't it? You're the person standing in front of him? He can hear what you're saying but he doesn't really register it, soaking in the cadence of a voice he had long forgotten because all he had were pleading whimpers and frenzied moans stored on his cell.

He's shaking. Is he dreaming? He's dreaming, right? He knows it's you. You're older, far more beautiful than he's ever seen you. You have a different hairstyle, wearing clothes he would have mocked you for, and there's this joyfulness within you that makes you glow.

There's a mess of emotions electrifying in the pits of his stomach from euphoria, anger, and dread. He could feel his skin growing clammy like he was about to vomit at any second.

"Hey, are you all right?"

Doe eyes full of concern peer up at him. He voices out the syllables of your name like a desperate prayer.

You tilt your head to the side, "How do you know my name?"

[raineydays411]

My Father's daughter pt1

Summary: After the disastrous gala, you get an unexpected visit from your “mother”and her family. 

A/n: Hello so I feel like the mom character should have a name, so from here on out, your mother's name is Christine. Also i hope y’all like this one cause i feel like it’s going kinda slow.

Growing up was rough. 

Because your mother decided that you and Tony weren’t worth the effort, you had to mature pretty quickly. You’re father had fallen into this deep depression, where he can barely take care of himself. You had to make sure that your father woke up on time for meetings, made sure he ate, drank water, and inevitably had to make sure that he didn’t choke on his own vomit when he got shitfaced. 

Needless to say, you were very mature for nine years old.

But then, a light in the form of Virginia Potts came into your lives. She saw the way you had taken on the role of Tonys caregiver, and was heartbroken. At first she thought it was just pure negligence from Tonys end, but as she spent more time with the both of you, she realized that Tony loved you more than anything in this world. So she stuck around. 

At first you were weary of her. Not really trusting towards older woman, or motherly figures as you were scorned once. But she never gave up. Not on you or your father. No, she stayed even when you would run away on under her watch. She stayed even when you would try and steal your fathers cars for a quick joy ride through Manhattan. And she stayed when you broke down after your mother had people come pick up all her belongings from the Tower, not bothering to come herself and say goodbye. 

She didn’t leave. She held you as you screamed and sobbed as the men packed away everything she owned. She held you even when you squirmed and scratched at her arms to get away. And she held you as you gave up and silently cried then eventually fell asleep, tightly clutching her midsection. 

That's when you started to come around. You stopped running away whenever your father would leave you with her, wouldn’t talk back when she asked you to pick up a mess, and you even helped her out when some creep intern decided to put the moves on her during a company meeting. 

It wasn’t until your father went missing when you truly saw her as someone you could trust. It was the worst three months of your life.  Another parent gone suddenly from your life. You were relocated to mansion in Malibu, a big empty place where the halls echoed as you walked through them. ANd you had thought that Pepper was going to stay back in New York, she wasn’t your assistant after all. You were shocked to see her at the airport, suitcase in tow with a determined look.

Seeing the look of surprise on your face she stated,

“ I’m not going to let you do this alone.” ,then grabbed your hand to lead you through terminal.

You were grateful that she only acknowledged your tears when you were in the privacy of the private jet. She rubbed your back as you let the tears run down your face. The whole three months that you were in her care, your perspective changed.

She asked about your day, made sure you ate, tucked you in and held you whenever you had nightmares. With in that three month period, Pepper showed you what it was like to have a mother again. And she never let you down. 

Then your dad came home, and your family was complete. You were ecstatic when they started dating and even more so when your father announced that they were going to get engaged.

And even though it took years, you finally trusted Pepper enough to see her as your mother. You were happy. 

Which is why you were extra pissed when you came home from your mother-daughter day and saw your biological mother with Bruce Wayne in the common room. They were sitting on the couch and were getting glared at by the Avengers that were home from missions,(Natasha, Steve, and Sam). 

“Dad, what’s going on?” You ask, looking past the hopeful and curious gazes from the couch. 

“Kid, I think you better sit down.” Tony said through slightly clenched teeth. His face was grim, as he looked past you and made eye contact with Pepper. They had a silent conversation with their eyes, and she nodded. She squeezed your shoulders and took your bags, then with a quick glare she had the rest of the room cleared except for the four of you. 

You took a seat across from your mother, Christine and Bruce. She sent a smile your way and was met with a blank look, “ Dad, what’s going on?”

He sighs and makes his way over to were you were seated, “I don’t know, Christine, maybe you should explain.” 

His tone indicated that he knew why she was here, but wanted her to sound stupid. Pepper came over and sat on the t other side of you. 

Christine glanced at the Pepper and cleared her throat, “Perhaps should be kept between family?”

You scoffed, “ Considering that Pep has been around longer than you ever have been, you have no right to decide who’s family to me and whos not.” 

You see Pepper sit up straighter with pride and mother slump. 

You sigh, “ What are you doing here?” 

She looks at Bruce, who you honestly forgot was still there, “ Y/n...I want you to come home with us.” 

A silence filled the room. You felt Pepper tense up at the words and saw your dads and clench into a fist. 

You however just stared in utter disbelief. 

“What.” 

“I know it's far fetched.” Your mother starts, ignoring your scoff, “ But i really do think it would benefit you to come to Gotham with us, and get to know your siblings!” 

You were seething. 

“My siblings? You mean the family that you left us for.”

“Y/n that’s not-”

“No, You think that you can just waltz into my home, after nine years of absolutely no contact, no birthday cards, not even a text to let me know that you were alive, and expect me to what? Just welcome you into open arms? Leave MY family and go live with you?? Really?”  You say with a scoff.

“Y/n there is a ot of factors you are not considering” Bruce chimes in for the first time.

You turn your glare onto him, “ And what you’re just okay with the fact that your wife has a whole other child who she just fucking abandoned?

“Language.” Your father mutters causing you to roll your eyes. 

“Well, I can’t say this didn’t come as a shock.” Bruce states, “ But, I also know that I love my wife, and that I would welcome you to our home.”

Your throat was hurting with the amount if times you’ve scoffed, “ And I appreciate that, really, but I would never leave my family. Especially not for her.”

Christine's eyes start to tear up, “ Y/n please, a girl needs her mother.”

Those words triggered the anger inside you. Your blood boiled and you can tell that she knew she messed up. 

“Oh? Is that right? What about when I was six and I waited for you to come and take me to that mother's day dance, only you never showed up and I went with my nanny. Or when I was eight and you promised that you would take me to get my ears pierced but then you got a phone call and left so dad took me?” 

You saw the tears run down her face as Bruce looked like he was thinking about something.

“Oh and what about when I was nine. I was nine and you promised to take me to the park. You remember that? Cause I do.” 

Tony tenses next to you, knowing what you were about to say.

“Y/n I can never apologize enough but-” You cut her off

“I was NINE and your promised to take me to the park” You continue, “ But you left. And this time you didn’t come back.” You finish and lean forward, “ Tell me, why the HELL would you think that I would want to come live with you and your fucking family?”

The room was once again engulfed in a tense silence. The only sounds were the sniffling of your mother. 

“You’re my baby girl...my petal. I love you and always have...” She starts, “ My biggest regret is leaving you that day and you have to know that Y/n.”

You feel tears start to rise, a knot in your throat. 

Peppers hand squeezes yours and you calm down and say

“Then you’re gonna have to learn to live with it.” 

Then you stand up and walk right out of the room. Leaving the adults and marching straight to the training rooms to let out some steam. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Back in the common room, a tense silence weighed on the adults. It seemed like no one knew exactly what to say, or they didn’t want to speak up.

Only when Tony cleared his throat did Christine speak up again.

“I didn’t come to cause any trouble.” she said quietly.

“What did you think would happen?”Tony says crossing his arms, “Surely you didn’t expect her to leave with you?”

“No Tony I didn’t. I just thought she would’ve considered it. I am still her mother.”

Pepper snorted, causing the attention to turn to her.

Christine's eyes narrowed, “ And who exactly are you to my daughter?”

Tony tensed, knowing not to mess with Pepper especially when it came to you. He sat back and waited for mamma bear to come out.

Pepper sent a glare her way, “ Me? I’m just the woman who has been raising her for the past nine years.”

Before Christine can get another word on Pepper continued on,

“ I don’t know who you think you are, but you have put Y/n and Tony through a lot of turmoil throughout the years. And now you think you can come in here and demand forgiveness from them?? That’s not happening.”

Bruce started to speak up, “I understand the pain you're family must have gone through, and I am sorry about my...unknowing participation, but Christine is willing to work on her relationship with her daughter.”

Now Tony started speaking, “why? Why now? Y/n is practically an adult, she doesn’t need you anymore. Not like she did before.”

“I’m her mother.” Christine said stubbornly, “ She’ll always need her mother.”

“And she has one. Just not you.” Pepper said standing from her spot, “ I think it’s time for you two to leave. I have to go comfort MY daughter.”

And with that Pepper made her way to the door where you disappeared, knowing exactly where you are. But before she left, she turned and said

“It was lovely to meet you Mrs. Wayne”

and left, leaving Tony to show them to the elevator.

[vidalinav]

Stu(died)- Chapter 5

Summary: Cassian invites Nesta to spend Thanksgiving with his family. 

Nessian Modern AU-university setting.

Masterlist, Stu(died) Chapter List

~~~~

Cassian sets down the pie tin, the glass clinking on the counter tops. “I’m giving you all warning now, but I’m bringing someone to Thanksgiving.”   

“And who’s that, baby?” His mom calls. She moves through the kitchen, reaching for a cup in the cupboard. Cassian doesn’t bother waiting for her to ask for help as short as she is or watch her climb on top of the counter. He grabs one for her and his mom gives him a sleepy pat on the cheek.   

“She’s a friend,” Cassian explains. That’s all the information he really wants to give. But it’s the way he says it… it gives too much away.

His sister coughs as she tries to swallow a bite of cereal, and his mom whips towards him with those laser beam eyes. “A friend?”   

“Yes, a friend,” Cassian confirms with a small sigh.   

They both gape up at him, but luckily, his dad saves the day, yet again. He blinks blearily at the three of them huddled in the kitchen, hair a tousled mess. He’s probably wondering why all of them are so awake this early, but Cassian doesn’t bother mentioning it’s already close to nine. He’ll take the distraction. Any reprieve. They watch as his dad looks to Azriel, flipping through channels in the living room. He simply nods a confused good morning.   

“Daniel,” His mom beams, slapping her hand to his father’s arm. “Cassian’s bringing a friend home for Thanksgiving!”   

“Who?”   

“Nesta… you met her at the game.” Cassian rubs the back of his neck. A nervous habit that he supposes is better than yelling at all of them to leave him alone. 

“Ah,” his dad sings, nodding in recognition. “The beautiful one.” He wags a finger as he huffs a laugh, reaching for the coffee pot. “My son sure knows how to pick ‘em.”   

Cassian scowls at that. “She’s more than beautiful. She’s…”   

Funny, grumpy, secretively soft.   

“She’s smart,” Cassian says instead.   

Ama lifts the spoon from her lips, waving it around with a mouth full of coco puffs. “What’s she doing with you, then?”  

“Ha. Ha.” Cassian remarks, though he can’t hold back the irritation. He’s been asking himself that same question... 

But she’s not really with him. He’s just better than being alone on a holiday.  

Cassian takes a deep breath, looking to his family. They’re going to embarrass him, he already knows. “She’s important to me, so I’m telling you early so you can get rid of any baby pictures where I’m naked in the bath… and don’t go pointing to places where I peed on the wall when I was six.”   

His father snorts, smirking to his mom. “That’s it, Franny, we’re going to have to move. Get rid of anything Cassian’s touched.”   

But his mom’s hums in judgement, glaring up at him in the way that has him straightening. “I think you forgot about that time when you were fifteen. After that party you boys snuck out ot.”   

“Men are disgusting,” Ama says, her mouth pursing as if she’s tasting something sour. “Anyways, what does she look like? I doubt you’re bagging Instagram models.”   

His dad gestures towards him, confused. “Cassian’s good-looking! What do you mean?” 

“Thank you!” Cassian says, pointedly glaring at Ama.   

But his sister only waves a hand, gesturing for Cassian to cough up the goods. Even his mom looks like she wants to know, her eyes big and pleading.   

Cassian sighs, pulling out his phone to the only photo he has of Nesta. Just seeing her has him smiling and he tries to tamper it down, hide it in a cough.  

She looks bored with her chin in her palm, irritated that he won’t put the phone down and study. Nesta’s surrounded by books and a mess of paper, and it seems so her, he wants to squeeze his phone. What he wouldn’t give to hold her tight when she’s grumpy and sneering, to bury his face in her hair until she laughs.   

It’s his favorite photo to date, and if he’s honest, he’s looked at it a million times. Cassian can still feel the panic of that one time he almost deletes it—a slip of his large thumb—so he won’t let them touch the screen as he holds his phone out.   

“You look with your eyes, not your hands,” he grumbles, “It’s the only picture I have." 

“She’s so beautiful!” Ama gasps, holding a hand to her chest dramatically. “Way too pretty for you. But can I date her?”   

“You’re fourteen!”   

“And?” She drawls, “Is age the only thing standing in my way? No hope for you then.”   

Cassian opens his mouth to respond, but his mom sighs at the two of them. She distracts him from whatever he’s about to say. Cassian watches as his mom takes his dad’s coffee from his hand, sipping at it while she cozies under his arm. His dad snuggles close, laying his head on hers. Perfectly content.   

Cassian wants that…  

So many times, he’s imagined it. Nesta and him in a great big house or a small, cozy home. Whatever she wants. Whatever makes her happy. As long as she’s in his arms. But Cassian shakes away the thought. She’s not even his. He’s not hers. They’re not dating. She’s only… a friend?   

He doesn’t even know.   

Rhys distracts him from his pity party, if only because he enters the kitchen with that ruffled expression he always seems to have on his lips. His brother leans on the counter, grabbing at an apple, and frowning at the picture still displayed bright on the screen.   

“She’s mean,” he notes, wrinkling his nose.   

Cassian snatches the apple away before he can take even one bite. “She’s not mean. She’s grumpy.”   

“Maybe that’s what he sees in women,” Azriel calls out from the living room, still staring at the tv screen.   

“Yeah,” Cassian says, pointing at Rhys. “Wait–no! She’s just Nesta. That’s just how Nesta is. She’s not mean. She’s… tough.”   

“Like a steak that’s well done?” Ama questions.   

Cassian thinks better on answering that. The subject of meat and Nesta should not belong in the same conversation… unless it’s steak houses and cooking… eating? Cassian pinches the bridge of his nose. “Can we stop talking about Nesta now?” 

His mom simply gestures to the photo. “How long have you known her?”   

Cassian sighs. He closes his eyes, knowing exactly what they’re going to say. “Two years.”   

They all begin to shout, and he wonders if he should mention how early it is. 

Only nine…   

“What and she doesn’t want to date you?” His dad gestures to him as if he were a piece of meat. “Is she blind?”  

“Or stupid,” Rhys mumbles.   

“She’s smart,” Azriel mocks, joining the procession. He smiles and Cassian knows he’s only teasing, but he sneers at his brother anyway, waving at the others in a how could you?   

Ama shrugs a shoulder, “Dodging a bullet then.”   

Cassian watches as Azriel and Ama fist bump at that. The look of betrayal Cassian gives his little sister is enough for her to roll her eyes. When did he stop being the favorite brother, he thinks. He took her to the science museum every spring since she was nine!  

At least, he knows where she’s getting the teenage angst.   

Cassian decidedly grabs the spatula. Enough is enough. “She’s coming for Thanksgiving,” He shouts, “and I swear if any of you make her uncomfortable, I’ll…”  

His mom raises a brow, that motherly cautionary tone in her voice. “You’re going to what?”   

Cassian sputters, “I’m… I’m going to burn all the food! Nothing you eat will be edible.”   

“You wouldn’t dare!” Ama shrieks.   

Azriel crosses his arms, insulted at the low blow of Cassian going directly for the food first. “Even the rolls?” 

Rhys only rolls his eyes. “Then Nesta will see you can’t cook and will probably dump your ass right then. I like this plan.”   

Cassian lowers the spatula. He didn’t think of that one. 

“What do you see in her anyways?”   

It’s a genuine question, Cassian knows. One that he feels like he must defend on principle.   

“I shouldn’t have to explain why I like someone, Little Rhysie.” Rhys sneers at the name. “And Nesta doesn’t have to like me, let’s be clear! But you just… you don’t know her like I do. Yes, she’s grumpy and she looks as if she’s always bored, and she acts, at first, dismissive and arrogant, but she’s loving and so funny and attentive, and she has to be comfortable for you to really see the extent of who she is.”   

“So, she’s a human version of Hamilton,” Ama says.   

At his name, the cat meows loudly. He jumps off the couch, raising a big furry tail. They all watch him move to his bowl, meowing in a fit of anger that it hasn’t already been filled.   

“Oh!” they all sound, looking to each other and nodding.   

Cassian shakes his head and sighs. “I’m getting a new family.” 

~ 

Cassian drums his fingers on the steering wheel the entire time Nesta’s in his car. She’s quiet and solemn and she grips the side of the door like she might open it at any moment. He imagines her escape. Jumping and rolling out onto the tarmac because she’d rather eat dirt than suffer this holiday with him.  

Cassian feels oddly self-conscious with her here, in his car with her backpack stuck in the back. It’s too casual—too normal for this be anything but a dream. Cassian finds himself sniffing the air every time he breaths, to catch that whiff of vanilla of his sister’s perfume. He sprays it right before she enters, and he has the vague inclination to keep spraying it while she’s near. He’s cleaned it so there’s no odd smell or mess, but it’s Nesta...  

She can scent fear.  

Worse, Cassian’s a nervous rambler and the silence is driving him insane. He thinks to turn on the radio, but his hands lay firmly on the steering wheel as if he’ll veer off if he lets go.  

The only thing he can think of to drum up a conversation is asking her about her paper. The one she spends two weeks on in a great state of despair. Half jumbled and half-screeching, she complains to anyone who listens about the critique she’s received and how she’ll have to spend extra time on the next assignment to make up for this grade. 

Cassian’s all too happy listening to Nesta now complain how she still hasn’t gotten her grade back for the more recent assignment when it’s been nearly a month, which just proves how the professor’s too incompetent to give good feedback.   

The conversation buys him some time at least. Time for what? He doesn’t know. But his stomach hurts just thinking about it.   

Inevitably though, Cassian begins pulling into streets of trimmed bushes and fountains in front of the lawns. His house is at the end of the long road, down a long driveway where him and his brothers used to race on their bikes until Rhys broke his arm, and they could no longer venture without a watchful eye. The inflatable balloon decorations are already sprouting from the ground. Tacky? Yes, but his parents had never cared about having the best lawn in the neighborhood.  

Besides, the tackiness doesn’t concern him. It’s the sheer size of his house. Cassian’s never noticed how large it is before… All houses on this block are. Vaguely he can remember the conversation he overhears between her and Gwyn... something about overconsumption and the rich. He squints at her hard as Nesta takes in the view. What is she thinking?  

Probably something along the lines of Death to the Proletariats! 

“So, this is your house,” she says. Nesta doesn’t even look at him when she speaks, he half wonders if she’s mumbling it to herself. “Looks exactly like I expected.”   

Cassian doesn’t know exactly what that means, so he merely shoves open his door, rushing to the other side. He thinks to open it for her, ease her into this whole ordeal, maybe body block her view, but by the time he reaches the other side, Nesta’s already hopping from his jeep.  

So, Cassian goes to get her bag. It’s heavy as he lifts it, and he has pretty good idea about the contents. Books and notebooks and textbooks... Nesta’s brain never takes a vacation. 

“I can carry my own bag,” she complains.   

Cassian rolls his eyes, throwing it over his shoulder and trying not to wince when it hits his back. “I can, too. See?”   

The glare Nesta gives him is just enough to give him chills.  

Until he remembers that it’s nearly the end of November and the temperature is dropping steadfast. It has yet to snow, but Cassian thinks it smells like it. The air is crisp and wet and fresh. It’s perfect weather for snowfall. 

It’s not perfect weather for someone with only a cardigan. What is it with Nesta and tiny sweaters? Cassian refrains from telling her that though or lecturing her on the fact that she was just sick a few weeks ago. She’ll only argue and spend more time in the cold, so he hurries her to the front door.

Nesta wavers at the inflatable snowman, sizing it up, and eyeing it as if she might fight the thing for being too tall. Cassian doesn’t let her look for too long.    

“Even your tree is large,” Nesta notes as they step through the doorway and into the hall. The key is stuck in the lock and Cassian wrestles with it, until her gaze lands on him and then he acts as if the key was always meant to be there in the first place.

Nesta raises a brow, and Cassian only tilts his head in question, innocence appearing on his face. She juts her chin towards the bare tree. Sturdy and proud.

The tree is only twelve feet. Not even the largest they’ve had, but the pickings are slim this year. Cassian won’t tell her this, of course. Not when every look means she’s analyzing his whole life like it’s trapped in a slide and she’s peering through a microscope.  

Instead, he shrugs, “it’s a fir.” 

Nesta wrinkles her nose slightly. “It’s real?”   

Thankfully he doesn’t have to answer that judgmental tone. He can already hear his dad’s spirited voice calling out for him. “Cassian! Is that you?”  

Nesta shirks back at the voice, and she looks like she might run, but she doesn’t. She stands there and straightens, her chin raising in habit as if she’ll scare that thing that wishes to trample her and stand in her way. Because Nesta has never shied from anything. Cassian can’t help the fondness blooming in his chest. That’s his Nesta.  

Not his Nesta, of course.

In steps in the most un-threatening man, Cassian has ever known.

He smiles behind those big glasses, raking them up to his nose. It’s as much of a nervous habit as Nesta’s straight spine. Two of the most harmless humans to exist staring at each other for not even the first time. He’s a large man, and without his school regalia, he’s more studious and domineering. Plenty of his friends when he was young, hated coming to their house for this reason. Afraid of being caught with some principle like figure. But Cassian knows how his father is… he’s a dork, just like Nesta.

Nesta smiles right away. It’s only a small turn of her lips and her eyes are too bright to mean she’s comfortable, but still… Cassian wonders if that pink tilt is from pure politeness or if she recognizes the man from their tailgating and doesn’t mind being around him. It is just a quick meet and goodbye, but she doesn’t wrinkle her nose at least or scoff haughtily at his outstretched hand, so Cassian takes that as a good sign. 

His dad answers back with a warm smile of his own and for a moment Cassian thinks this might not be so bad. How threatening can a middle-aged man with an argyle sweater seem to someone? She’ll relax.

But Cassian asks cautiously, “where are the others?”

“Oh, I’m sure they’re somewhere around here,” His dad chatters, waving him off and gesturing for them to follow, to look and get comfortable. Look at the pictures hanging on the wall, the house in all its glory, the halls like he’s showing her an apartment she wishes to rent. “You know, it’s very nice to meet you again Nesta. When Cassian told us you were coming, I almost didn’t believe it. Cassian never brings anyone home, and I encourage him often. I almost thought he didn’t have any friends.”

Nesta doesn’t look at him while his father rambles on, she’s too quiet as she takes it all in. There’s not much he wants to hide from her, his whole house is welcome to her… but boy, does he want to hide her and maybe himself. Both of them running back to campus, before something deeply embarrasing can happen. His dad gestures to the kitchen, as polite as any concierge. He smiles at him with a great big grin as Nesta moves first, giving Cassian a thumbs up when she’s ahead.

“We got a whole buffet of food that my son’s so graciously made for all of us.” 

“You cook?” Nesta asks, her voice making him stand with attention. But she shakes her head as if chastising herself. In a low voice and perhaps for her own ears, she says, “of course you cook. I saw you grill.”  

Before Cassian can answer that or pause in his pursuit of memorizing every little quirk that Nesta Archeron possesses, his dad’s already luring them both towards the stove. They watch him smile gleefully, putting on large oven mitts and throwing an apron over his head. It has a cartoon dinosaur dressed in Christmas lights on it. Tree Rex...   

Dear god.   

His dad raises his finger in excitement, as if to say wait and Cassian smiles nervously at Nesta, though she only looks ahead, careful not to look at him for too long.

Carefully, his dad takes out the pie from the oven. Warm and golden brown, he holds it up like it’s Cassian’s first grade art project. “Look at this! He’s a wonderful cook. Best in town! Look at that lace on the border. You can’t get that kind of detail just anywhere.”   

Cassian laughs anxiously, giving his dad a look, hoping it conveys the right message. Tone it down!  

“I’m not that good,” he dismisses, sheepishly.   

“Don’t be modest!”   

His cheeks heat up from the praise or... Is he embarrassed? Cassian has no idea. It’s hard to tell. As soon as Nesta sees the house, he figures the queasiness in his stomach will go away once that part is over, but it seems to be becoming a permanent state of affair.  

“Yeah. Don’t be modest Cassian.” Azriel grins wide as they all turn to see his brother and his little sister in the doorway.  

Azriel gives a nod to Nesta, and promptly heads for the rolls. Cassian smiles in a way that hurts his cheeks. “Why are you still in pajamas?” He mumbles under his breath when Azriel reaches beside him.  

Azriel scoffs, “it's my house. What should I be wearing?” 

“It’s Thanksgiving,” he says as if it’s obvious.  

“And I’m wearing Sunday’s best.” His hair isn’t even combed, and his shirt has a baby vomiting on the front.  

"Hamilton’s dressed nice at least,” Ama says, holding the fat cat in her arms. Indeed, he has a little bow tie on, and the cat doesn’t look happy about it either. Not that Hamilton ever looks happy...  

“And you?” Cassian gestures to her dress, noticing the pins in her hair, the way it’s curled. It’s the nicest he’s ever seen her outside of band concerts and science fairs. Cassian can just imagine what she’s going to say. Something all the lines of on my way to steal your girl.  

His mom, however, appears from the living room, her arms already crossed in that mad mom way. Cassian was supposed to text when they were close... whoops.  

Probably would have been a good idea, knowing his family. The way they liked to embellish and dramatize. A house full of actors and clowns, he once says. What did that make him then in this circus?

"Where’s Rhys?” Cassian asks, looking around to see one of them is missing. 

Azriel shrugs, “probably still washing his hair. I filled his shampoo with mayonnaise.”   

What? “Why?”  

“I told him he’d regret it if he ate my last donut. It’s not my fault he has no self-preservation skills.”  

His mom only rolls her eyes, “We’ll talk about that later.”  

She shoves her way past them, warning them with a stern look. Be polite. 

Yes, Cassian wants to plead. Please be nice and warm and comforting. 

“You must be Nesta!” His mom announces. Cassian grimaces at the brightness of his mom’s voice. “I’m Francesca. Cassian’s mom, of course. You can call me mom, too, if you’d like.” At Cassian’s bewildered look, his mom waves a hand. “What? Everyone calls me mom. I’m the mom of the neighborhood.” 

“Or...” His dad interrupts. His saving grace. “You can call her Franny.”  

His mom smiles a little sheepishly when she notices Nesta’s lips raise in what looks more like a grimace. But before she can say anything that might appease, as his mother likes to do, Cassian watches as she zeroes in on to the backpack left on the floor, where Nesta leaves it tucked out of the way.   

Nesta follows that gaze, looking too apologetic for a place that’s usually messy. But his mom doesn’t let her get a word out before she’s holding up her hand. “Did my son not get you settled in? Cassian did you show her around the house—the bathrooms at least?” Nesta's eyes widen as his mom zeros in. “Did he offer you a drink, sweet pea?”  

“We just got here,” he whines in explanation.

His mother ignores that. “Lemonade? Iced tea? Cassian get her an iced tea.” 

“Ma, she can talk,” Ama says.   

“Also, she has arms,” Azriel adds, lightly. She gives them both a stern look and whips a glare to Cassian.   

Cassian takes a deep breath and decides that he’ll just settle the matter with as little fuss as possible. He shrugs. “Do you want something? I can show you what we have.”   

Nesta merely nods, but to say she looks overwhelmed is an understatement. At least she seems to be at ease with his dad. He gives her a friendly smile as he nods to the refrigerator and it’s something about the softness that has Cassian relieved.

His dad holds Ama with that look. His little sister wrapped in a white blanket, as he announces come meet your baby sister. It’s the same look he gives when Cassian breaks his leg in the second grade, and he carries him to the car. The same look as when Azriel—perfect Azriel—forgets to do his fifth-grade project and he cries. His dad rallies them together and they stay up the entire night making an ecosystem in a cardboard box.  

To Nesta it might have been a friendly face in a crowded room, but to Cassian... Cassian is never more grateful to have a father like him.   

It puts him at ease.   

So, Cassian, in a fit of courage, blurts, “You now know my mom.”   

He speaks to Nesta only—pauses so she can look to him and not the others who are probably watching and jotting every way they can make fun of him later. “She likes to boss me around most days, but she’s the most wonderful person alive.” He sets a hand on his mom’s shoulder and gives it a squeeze. “This is Ama, my little sister and of course, you already know Azriel. This fat cat is Hamilton.”   

He turns to look at them after he’s sure Nesta doesn’t look too overwhelmed. “Guys, this is Nesta.”  

Ama rolls her eyes, “Obviously. Mom just said that.” 

“Thank you, Ama. I just love the tone of your voice. So sweet to me.” 

But his little sister raises a hand, and raises Hamilton’s too, in a wave of hello.  

Cassian watches as a sweet small grin lights Nesta’s face, her cheeks warming to a shy pink. She waves a small hand, and it requires all his effort not to tuck in his own—see how small it is compared to his. “Nice to meet you all.”   

Cassian grins and when he turns back to his family, he gives them the most serious expression he can muster. His most threatening look. “There, you’ve all met her now and unless you want the rest of the food burnt, would you please remove yourselves from the kitchen. I’m supposed to be cooking here!”   

His mom looks like she wants to add something, but Cassian beats her to it. He looks at Nesta with what he hopes is an apologetic expression…. It probably looks more like he’s exasperated. “I have those Arizona green teas you like.”  

Nesta nods slowly, her lips set into a pretty, pink pout. Her eyes blink wide at him. She seems surprised that he knows her favorite drink…

At the look, Cassian wants to hang his head back and sigh. 

Gods help him, she’s never going to get the hint.   

~ 

Settling Nesta in goes as well as he expects, but the hard part is over, Cassian tells himself. It can’t be any more embarrassing than this.  

Cassian knocks on the wood of the cutting board, just in case.   

He blocks off the kitchen to the rest of his busybody family and he pulls out a stool for Nesta to sit at the counter and things are... well enough. She pulls out a book and he wonders if it’s to avoid him, but hey, at least she doesn’t pull out earphones.  

They settle into a companionable silence and occasionally, Cassian asks her questions. Is she hungry? Does she want to try something? Does she want more tea? How about that test on Tuesday?  

Nesta mostly says no, looking back to her book and Cassian bites at his lips as if to reign in the questions. They sit on his tongue and so many things appear in his head that he has to hold himself back from blurting them out.  

Snow? No, that’s about the weather.  

The book? No, he asked her about that already.  

Strangely, Cassian wants his family to come back. He's never noticed just how much studying offers him reprieve—an excuse. Cassian doesn’t have to be entertaining, because he should be studying. He doesn’t have to be cool, because he should be studying. There’s no lame-o excuse he has to come up with to see Nesta again. The excuse is that he’s studying.  

Now what does he talk about that’s not studying?  

Thankfully—albeit a little too late in his opinion—his mom peaks her head in and offers the tour Cassian so graciously does not. Nesta accepts without a look back to Cassian and when she’s gone, he almost feels guilty at the relief.  

Then… he just feels bad.  

He tries to focus on the last bit of cooking. The turkey, the rolls, the pie all done. The sweet potatoes are in the oven with a smattering of pecans and brown sugar. The marshmallows will be toasted to perfection. He seasons the mashed potatoes. All the while, Cassian comes up with topics like his brain is playing Jeopardy!  

He knows Nesta. It can’t be that hard.  

But it’s hard!  

As much as he thinks he knows, Nesta just... surprises him. He knows her expressions, her mannerisms, her terrible need to be right. He knows what her pout means, her glares, her tired blinks. He knows her lies and how to read them. I’m not hungry. I’m not tired. Cassian then complains for an hour about how she’s running him ragged, and he’ll never learn without some food. Let’s take a break, he keeps whining, and then he suggests getting tacos or sandwiches or coffee and that’s the only way she’ll agree. He knows what books she reads and what restaurants she likes. He knows her routines.  

What he doesn’t know are her interests, but god, does he want to! 

Cassian just can’t think of anything to say.  

“Who’s winning?” Cassian looks up to his dad who tilts his head, offering a small, tentative smile. “You look like you’re having a real deep conversation and I’ll be honest; you seem to be losing the argument.”  

Cassian sighs, “I can’t think of anything to say.”  

“To whom?” 

“To Nesta!” Cassian doesn’t mean to yell, and the raised brow his dad gives him only makes him feel worse. “Sorry,” he offers quietly.  

“It’s okay.” His dad shrugs a shoulder, and Cassian vaguely remembers starting school again for the first time, holding onto his leg because he doesn’t want him to leave. “This is the first time you’ve ever brought someone home, so I don’t blame you. I wouldn’t want to be in your shoes.” 

Cassian tilts his head back, his eyes shifting past cream. “What if she doesn’t like me?”  

He feels like a kid saying that. What is he in junior high? But it's the question that keeps replaying in his mind, and he’s spent an hour trying to convince himself it’s not possible. That he can make himself convincing enough.   

Cassian turns his gaze back to his dad, but he only smiles sadly.  

“She might not,” he says, shrugging, and those are not the words Cassian wants to hear. “But she's here... I think that might have to be enough for today.”   

Cassian groans at the answer and at the same time he feels guilty for groaning. He’d wait a million years for Nesta, it’s true, and he’s not lying when he says she doesn’t owe him anything, but...  

What if she still doesn’t like him at the end?  

Cassian doesn’t want to think about that, so he grabs a roll, stuffing it in his mouth.  

“How does she seem?” Cassian asks in between bites.  

“Your mom is currently trying to wring words out of her and trying not to wring Rhys’s neck.”  

He supposes that should make him laugh. There’s nothing any of them like more than to see Rhys chastised for being dramatic. Cassian can’t muster the mirth, though. One, because he keeps stuffing down rolls and if he laughs, he’s for sure going to choke and two... Well, he feels tired suddenly.  

His dad smiles at him, a bigger grin this time. Cassian wonders if he’s now become the dramatic one and his dad is laughing at him beneath that smirk. Everyone's laughing at his expense today.  

“Cas, she came to Thanksgiving with you. To a family holiday. She at least prefers you to wherever she could have been today. So, you are the better option. Now I don’t know if that means she wants to date you, but it means something—means you made a safe enough place that she’d endure this god-awful, awkward family gathering. She knew about us before she came too, that's got to say something.”  

Maybe...  

“Not maybe. I know and honestly, if she comes back after today, well she deserves all your time because hell no would I come back.”  

Cassian gives him a bland look, “You live here.”  

“Only because I can’t escape.” His dad throws up his hands, gesturing to the window where the expansive front long beams in front. “I’ve tried! I can’t make it past the hedges.” 

That at least makes him huff. Not exactly a laugh, but... he’s getting there. Cassian shakes his head, “Nesta’s just…”  

“Nesta’s just what?” the person in question asks, as she resumes her spot on the counter. She opens her book to its marked page, and Cassian watches as Nesta merely waits for his response.  

“I thought you were touring the house.” Cassian looks awkwardly at his dad and back to her.   

“Your house isn’t so large it would take me all day to see it.” Nesta raises a brow and Cassian quickly holds up the basket of bread.   

“Try a roll,” he says in distraction. Cassian hums as he watches her grab at one. She inspects it like it’s laced with drugs, poking at the bread with a finger. Cassian decides he won’t look at her for too long, so he looks at his father instead, but he only mouths talk to her as he raises a hand in goodbye.  

He’s leaving him alone with her! 

“You made this?”  

Cassian smiles as warmly as he can muster. His cheeks hurt from the grin. He hums to himself—another nervous habit—but he hopes the sound might sooth him. “I make all the food for Thanksgiving. Except the green bean casserole... Rhys won’t let anyone touch that.”  

At the mention of the name, Nesta wrinkles her nose.  

“Your brother doesn’t like me.” Nesta squishes the bread in her hands and Cassian watches the movement in awe. It seems strange having her in this kitchen. He feels nervous, somehow. Interviews, come to his mind. Interviews and fifth-grade performances when he falls off the stage.  

“What?” Cassian says, his voice rising in pitch. “What makes you think that?”  

“He just told me he doesn’t like me.”  

That prick.  

“Although, your little sister offered me his room. I can move in next week.” Nesta snorts softly, looking to the living room. “We’re giving him time to move all his things.” 

She looks almost fond staring at the rambunctious bunch fighting over which movie to watch. Azriel has the remote and Cassian knows no one’s going to grab it from him, which means they’ll all be stuck watching something on TLC. 90-Day Fiancé or something or other.  

“I’m sure Azriel can help with that.”  

Nesta nods, gesturing to all the bowls. He can’t stop staring at her. Here in his kitchen with her hair swept down her back. This is too normal, too odd, too much, and the very image of her has his mouth opening wide, ready to reveal all his secrets.  

But Cassian can’t tell the good ones yet... not when she could dismiss him so easily, so Cassian slips on the oven mitts. “The foods almost done,” he says. 

"I’m still surprised you cooked this all by yourself.”  

Somewhere between the wariness, he thinks he hears Nesta impressed. Maybe that’s what gives him the courage—the impulse—to pick out a clean spoon, dipping it in the mashed potatoes. “You’ll be even more surprised when you taste it. Here, try a bit.”   

It takes everything in him not to raise that spoon to her lips, not to feed her like he wants. Nesta gives him a look before she takes it from his hand. For the life of him, he can’t read it and Cassian wants to know what she’s thinking. If that look might mean, he means more to her than homework.  

Nesta moans at the bite of food, doing that thing she does with her head. A small little dance, a back-and-forth movement. Cassian doubts that she notices the tell-tale sign, but he knows... she likes his food. Cassian tries not to let the heat go to his face—the pride.   

This has to be a bad idea, he thinks, but what a good idea?   

Cassian catches Nesta’s gaze, and her eyes are a tepid blue. Parts of her hair are swept up and out of her face, but a few wisps escape the pinks. He holds out a hand, ready to tuck them back for her.

How soft is her cheek, he wonders.   

“That’s not fair,” Rhys muses and the sound of his voice has them both jumping back. “You slapped me with that spoon the last time I tried to sneak a bite.” 

That prick.   

Cassian tries not to glare at his brother, but the smile he gives him is edged with enough malice that even Nesta looks shocked. “I’ll slap you again if you don’t stay out of the kitchen.”   

“Playing favorites, too. I see.” 

Soon enough, Azriel is making his way into the kitchen, too. He heads straight to one of the bowls. “You were never anyone’s favorite, Rhys.” 

When Cassian looks back to Nesta, she’s fiddling with the bowls. Her eyes flicker to the dining table. “I’ll just--”  

“Oh dear, that’s not necessary,” his mom calls, popping seemingly out of nowhere... Were they all waiting in the hall? “You’re our guest. You relax.”  

“When is the food done?” Ama whines.  

“Whenever it gets done,” Cassian retorts, but he looks to Nesta and gives her a sheepish grin. He doesn’t know if she’s eaten all day and he regrets not asking earlier. He’s only seen her eat a roll and that’s not nearly enough for how much she snacks. “About thirty minutes.”  

“You never talk to me that softly,” Ama huffs.  

“That’s because you don't deserve this tone.”  

“And I do?” The frankness in Nesta’s voice has his cheeks warming to a fault. Cassian zeros in on her gaze. Those bright blue-grey eyes. That cheeky way in which she hides her smirk.  

“Course,” he offers with a casual shrug. Cassian refrains from speaking dramatics, but it’s hard to know what to say when she looks at him like that. Like she’s never seen him before.  

I’ve been sitting right in front of you this whole time.  

He hopes that look means she’ll understand that he’s not here to play with her feelings. He’ll give her the world if she wants and not because of how well she keeps up his grades, but because he can't imagine ever not seeing her roll her eyes or complain about how he’s not paying attention. He'll fail all his classes if he has to. 

Nesta would hate him if he did that.  

“In that case, is there anything I can do to help?”  

On a regular basis, Cassian might have insisted that he could do it himself. No need for her to lift a finger. But the way Nesta seems to stick by him, not wanting to leave, even as his family starts getting out drinks, Cassian decides he’ll take it. 

Has his family saved him? Have they been so unreasonable that Nesta actually prefers his presence over theirs? 

That thought makes his heart bleed in his chest. He knows she doesn’t know anyone in this home as well as she knows him, but it’s that familiarity, that certainty, that has him wanting to tuck her close.   

Cassian will keep her comfortable and happy. If that’s to be his job for the evening—for the rest of his life—then Nesta Archeron will be more comfortable and happier than anyone in this world.  

So, he offers her a spoon and a grin. “Can you stir the cheese in the macaroni?”  

~ 

Nesta sits by him at the dinner table, and he tries to hide his pleased expression at the thought of being so close to her even if it is just a coincidence.  

Did his family plan this? Who knows, but Cassian won’t look a gift horse in the mouth. She’s here, and he won’t question that either.

“Cassian?” His dad gestures to the turkey with a knife, poking from the breast to the golden leg. It’s a tradition in their household that since he cooks all the food, he gets first dibs.  

Cassian only looks to Nesta, “white or dark meat?”  

“Dark,” Nesta answers. Cassian hears Rhys groan, probably mumbling something about how there won’t be any left now that there’s seven people. Cassian decides to ignore him, but he’s right... he might just have to make two turkeys next year.  

Cassian shakes his head at the naïve thought. Next year? Let’s see how next month goes.  

“You don’t want mashed potatoes?” Nesta asks and he notices the bowl she holds out his way.  

“Oh wait, no. I want some.”  

Cassian piles them onto his own plate, and when he notices Nesta’s only gotten a small spoonful—probably about politeness since he knows she can pack it away—he spoons more onto her plate. He watches her frown at the tall lump but before she can glare at him, Cassian is quick to turn away, handing the bowl to his mom.  

Nesta eats a little bit of everything and only takes a tiny bite of the carrots. Cassian wants to roll his eyes since he just knew she’d be judgmental about the healthy options.  

She likes the sweet potatoes the best with its marshmallows, its brown sugar topping mixed with pecans. She does that little dance with her head again, and though Nesta eats everything else, it’s the only thing she asks for seconds of. That seems to annoy Rhys since he practically hoards them away every year. But his mom just keeps offering her more and more with an amused look on her face towards his brother. That’s what you get.  

Cassian’s not all that surprised about Nesta’s enthusiasm since she loves sweets. 

“You cook well for someone terrible at science.”  

At the mention of his grades, Cassian grumbles, “Cooking isn’t a science. It’s an art.”  

“You certainly can cook for me all the time, if you’d like,” Nesta says happily, biting into the brown sugar spread. Cassian pauses at those words, those inviting, pleasing words that mean she might want him around.

Or maybe she’s just used to him. Again, it’s the familiarity. It has nothing to do with him or how well he can cook or how constant he’s there. She tutors him and perhaps the annoyance has grown in something else. Something fonder…

“I’ll bring you food when we study,” he says and his voice is entirely too soft as he says the words.

Nesta scoffs lightly, making a face. “You already do that and I’ve told you several times not to. Hope that you never spill anything on my notes.”  

That obnoxiously pretentious response is familiar, and Cassian smiles lightly at the words. Perhaps… a little too fondly.

“So,” his mom announces loudly. She leans a bit forward as they turn towards her. “You guys are…”  

Cassian glowers at the question, but he can see all of them move just a little closer, waiting for her answer.  

He hates them. He’s never coming back home again.  

“We’re friends,” Nesta says, calmly.  

Scratch that! He should have brought her home sooner. His heart feels like it’s pounding in his chest, his ears ring and ring, but still he asks. “Best friends?” 

He knows he’s pushing his luck, and any other day Nesta might have glared at the push. He feels apologetic as he waits. His hands grow clammy, and his face must be red. His ears feel warm to the touch.  

Nesta merely hums, pushing the potatoes around her plate with a fork. She’s not one to lie, he knows. She won’t spare him the embarrassment.  

“You’re the first friend I made.” She catches his gaze. Her face doesn’t turn a pretty shade of pink, her lips don't part, her eyes don’t gleam like the morning sun. For all intents, she could be telling him the weather, but Cassian can see every word she doesn’t say just by that frank look.  

You’re important to me. 

Cassian smiles down at his mashed potatoes. He can already feel the warmth reach his cheeks. He’s going to be red all day.

Rhys clears his throat, “So why aren’t you with your family?”  

Cassian gives him a glare.

“My sisters live far,” she only says.   

“You have sisters?” Ama grins at the thought and Cassian rolls his eyes. She’s always complaining that she could do with a few less brothers.

We can live Rhys at the mall, he thinks. One less.  

Nesta nods, “Two.”  

Cassian bristles in his seat. Two sisters? How does he not know this? Oh, that’s right, Nesta doesn’t tell him anything that doesn’t have to do with passing his classes.  

“Are they in school like you?” His dad is the one who asks this, and he looks more curious than judgmental. Thankfully. His dad is the least judgmental person he knows, but still... Nesta has never been so forthcoming with information.  

“My youngest sister goes to an art school in New York and my other sister is a baker in Brackenridge.”  

A little more than five hours away. Interesting…  

"You’re the eldest?”  

Nesta nods and Azriel whistles as if understanding the plight. “Then you know how annoying little siblings are." He pointedly looks at Rhys who gives him a glare.  

“They live so far,” his dad tells her. “Do you miss them?”  

“We talk a lot on the phone, and I see them every couple of months when we can all get together.” Nesta shrugs and a side of her lips raise in a way that makes Cassian want to reach for her. Though he can’t do that like he wishes. 

He can’t imagine not being able to see these buffoons every weekend, even if they are more work than anything else, and the way Nesta is… he can’t imagine her not missing her sisters, even if her expression doesn’t note anything particularly wrong with this arrangement.

So, Cassian clenches his fist around the fork, trying not to grab a hold of her hand. To remind her that he’s always here. He’s always been here.

His dad smiles warmly at his friend. “Well, until those times come, you’re welcome with us anytime.”  

~ 

Cassian catches Nesta’s gaze and he juts his chin out to the door. She seems to sigh in relief at the action. He knows her well enough to know when she wants to leave, the socializing inevitably taking its toll.  

The keys jingle as he grabs them, and Nesta heads for the coat rack. He wants to remind her to put on a scarf, it’s something that a friend might say to another friend, but Cassian thinks better of it. No sense in pushing his luck.  

“Where are you two going?” his mom asks.  

“I’m taking Nesta home. Thanksgiving is over.”  

His mom sets her hands on her hips, giving him a reprimanding look. “Thanksgiving is not over.”  

She places a hand on Nesta’s arm, and surprisingly Nesta doesn’t shrug off the touch. “Oh, sweetie, please stay.”  

“Mom, she wants to go home.”    

“You’re practically a part of the family,” his mom pleads. She holds out a hand to the living room as if luring her to holiday cheer. “And thankfully, Cassian let us know you were coming early, so I picked up pajamas for you.”  

Cassian gapes, “pajamas!” 

His mom ignores him, but Nesta only remains thoughtful and quiet.  

“Stay the night. We have traditions in this household, and I’ve just decided you’re our honorary daughter.” She laughs brightly as Cassian glares. “So please... We’ve got hot coco and Christmas movies and we can decorate the tree together as a family.”  

His mom rambles on, gently moving Nesta forward.  

Cassian hums in contemplation. Is he like this?  

Then again, Nesta doesn’t pull away even with the not-so-subtle push. She holds up the pajama top, when it gets shoved into her hands, and he sees the snowman at the front, laying in a puddle. I’m having a meltdown, it reads.  

Cassian’s expecting her to scoff, to snide or sneer even if it’s exactly something he would’ve chosen for her too. But her lips raise just a tad, and he’s never seen someone so... beautiful. Cassian can’t explain it any other way, he doesn’t have another word. Beautiful isn’t exactly correct, he thinks, but his heart leaps in his chest at the same time he catches his breath as if he’s run out of air.  

Her look... he breathes it in, stores it away where all those facts live. That list of Nesta likes, and wants, and needs. Every quirk of her personality. All of it familiar.  

How is it possible, he thinks, to know comfort by just looking at someone.  

“I’ll stay,” she says to his mother. His mom squeals with delight, pointing out where the bathroom is, telling her how cute she’ll look in her pajamas.  

But Nesta pauses, looking to him first.  

“If that’s okay with you,” she adds.  

“Stay,” Cassian blurts. Because what else can he say? There are no other words that grace his lips well enough, that sound completely true and right or safe.

“Alright. I’ll stay.”  

Cassian swallows, grasping his throat to keep from saying anything else.  

“Stay forever,” his mom laughs brightly.  

~ 

Nesta waves a piece of tinsel around as Hamilton chases the sheen of paper. The fat cat seems to like Nesta just fine and he doesn’t ask her embarrassing questions like some of the other members in his family do.  

No wonder Hamilton’s his favorite.  

Hamilton reaches out a paw and Nesta pulls the tinsel away quickly until the little cat meows egregiously and she sets it back down. All the while, she talks to his dad. He holds a book out for her to see. Cassian recognizes it as an old history book about the trade of opium. Stellar reading choice.  

Cassian shakes his head. Of course, he’d ramble on about that book. He’s always trying to shove it down their throats. The perks of biological research, he says. Where scientific discovery meets history.  

Nesta at least doesn’t seem perturbed. She engages in the conversation with apt attention. In fact, he hands it to her, and Nesta grasps the spine in her hands like it’s worth its weight in gold.  

“Keep it,” his dad says. 

Really? Cassian wants to gasp. That’s his favorite book.  

“Maybe It’ll convince you into becoming a physician-scientist. Could use another one in the family.” His father winks at him as he says the words and Cassian holds up his hands in exasperation. 

He quickly sets his arms to his side when Nesta looks back at him. Cassian merely looks away, tapping his foot to the music playing softly through the living room. He’ll pretend he’s lost in thought.

Only thoughts of her, of course.  

Ama’s already in her pajamas, the words sleigh the patriarchy on the front. Cassian’s pajamas, conveniently, have snowmen on them. The same color and theme as Nesta’s and he makes note not to mention it, even as his mom winks at him by the buckets of bulbs.  

Ama opens box after box of decorations, gasping loudly when she finds the ears, holding them up like its treasure. “I found them!” 

The first person she gives it to is Nesta, and Cassian might have rolled his eyes, if she didn’t smile fondly at his little sister, amusing her whims and wiles. The reindeer ears comb the smaller, falling pieces out of her way like he wishes to do with his fingers. She’s adorable and all Cassian can do is stare like a creep.  

“First things first, we’ll have to decorate the tree!” his mom sings.  

“This is always my favorite part,” Ama says excitedly to Nesta.

As soon as dinners over, Ama uses the opportunity to stick as close as she can to her. The only other interesting person here, she says. “I helped pick out all the bulbs.”  

“Actually, I did that,” Cassian says with a roll of his eyes, shifting closer to Nesta as if he can keep his little sister from hogging their guest.  

“Please,” Ama says, raising a hand. “You wouldn’t know taste if it hit you in the--”  

“You know, I used to be your favorite brother.”  

Azriel snorts by the box of ribbons and wreaths, “not true. I was always the one she loved most.”  

Ama shrugs, “well, it certainly wasn’t Rhys if that helps.”   

Rhys gives them all a look, “I didn’t even say anything!”  

Nesta looks like she's holding back a smile, as if she can’t help the turn of her lips.  

“She laughs at my jokes,” Ama says, snootily.  

Cassian juts his chin out to Ama, gazing at Nesta like he’s exasperated and they share some joke between them. “The most entertaining person here. Can’t possibly be me.”

“Could be Rhys though,” Nesta remarks with a deliciously evil gleam in her eyes. “I’m certainly entertained by the grinch costume.”

“I’m wearing normal clothes.”

Nesta hums and glances at Cassian. “Exactly.”

Cassian snorts a laugh, and gestures for both of them to go to boxes where all the decorations lay.

The tree never looks fanciful, as Ama suggests. If anything, it looks as messy as the house usually is. There are handprints and artwork and pictures in popsicle frames that are older than even Ama. There is nothing on that tree that suggests they care about how things look. They joked one year and bought purple and green bulbs and a fake white tree, but his mom had hated it so much she’d called it Barney for the weeks leading up to Christmas.  

His dad had put it in the backyard a week before the holiday and had declared that the squirrels could have it and there would be no show and tell in their own home. The rest of them had agreed.  

It has only been the six of them for years, and now... it’s seven. It’s seven and Cassian can’t help but hope it stays seven.  

Nesta helps his mom and sister the most. They rope her into twisting the lights round and round, since she’s taller than both and can reach more. Cassian rolls his eyes and offers to do that for her, taking the lights from her hands. Even so, he still has to use the ladder for how tall it is.

When it’s perfect and his mom oohs and ahhs, Cassian stays near the tree if only to keep being close to Nesta and the way she seems to have settled in this space.

Nesta doesn’t seem to mind him, shifting from boxes to tree, and lifting an ornament and admiring the view of it all. The lights hit her just right. Perfect little dots of red and green along her face like a smattering of freckles.  

Nesta mouths the words of the Christmas song playing. He doesn’t even know which one. All he knows is she’s looking at the tree, swaying her head lightly to some sound. She’s wearing those little antlers in her hair, hanging up an ornament that he made when he was five and that soft smile… the clarity of her eyes…  

“I love you,” he gasps.   

Right as he says the words, the music stops playing, the song ending into soft bells. Cassian slaps a hand over his mouth.  

Fuck! 

His skin stings from how hard he slaps.  

Nesta turns to him, they all turn his way, but Cassian is only looking at her. He shakes his head. He can feel his heart sinking, his stomach twisting like he’s going to throw up.  

He’s going to throw up and his face hurts and Nesta’s expression looks… irritated? 

Azriel pokes out from behind the tree, raising a brow. “I love you, too. But you don’t have to get all sappy. It’s not even Christmas, yet.” 

“Cassian’s sappy every year though. I’m surprised he’s not crying from the Christmas lights.” Ama laughs, and Rhys opens his mouth to speak. 

Cassian gives him a glare before he can say a word.   

“Alright kids,” his mom says, clapping to try to distract them—to stop them from arguing. She smiles up at him, though, that special wink in her eyes, that all-knowing mom look. He loves Nesta, and his mom knows…

Their whole campus probably knows except Nesta.

 “Gather around the tree for pictures!”    

Nesta goes taut at the words, and Cassian watches as Azriel grabs his Santa hat, the one knitted with his name. Rhys throws his arms around Ama, who tells him he stinks still of mayonnaise. It’s all a routine, a family thing and Nesta steps away, shirking at the four of them. A little awkward in their close-knit family.   

“I can take it,” she says, gesturing to the camera his mom holds in his hand.   

“Oh no dear, go sit with the rest.” His mom juts her chin to where they scramble by the tree. Cassian settles on the floor, resisting the urge to pat the space beside him. “There's a timer. No worries!”   

“But I’m not--”   

“Nonsense,” his mom says, shaking her head. “Once you’re invited back to our house, you’re ours, baby girl.”   

Azriel’s the one who waves her over, dramatically. “Yeah, Nesta. You’re ours now. You’ll never escape us.”   

“Don’t make it sound creepy,” Ama sneers, hitting Azriel in the side with her elbow. “Nesta, I myself would be very happy to have another girl in the house. Even if it’s an in-law.” 

"We’re not married,” Cassian remarks, plainly.   

“Who says she’s marrying you?” 

"Well, she’s not marrying them!”   

“I’m not marrying anyone,” Nesta says, plopping down beside him.   

She’s so close and Cassian can smell vanilla and cinnamon as she bumps into him, adjusting where she sits. Or maybe that’s the smell of his house sticking to her clothes, her hair. Whatever it might be, she seems to belong here. Nesta fits so well between them.  

“Make way for the real star,” Rhys announces. His little brother must be asking for a death wish as he pushes at Cassian’s head, lurching in the space between him and Nesta. “This is my spot.” 

His mom tuts. “Your head seems to be blocking the tree dear. It would be better if you moved down to the end.”  

She smiles so forcefully even Cassian stands up straighter at the look. Rhys merely rolls his eyes, sulking to the other end.  

“Hi,” Cassian says, peering at Nesta once more. The loveliest image. Much better than brothers, anyway. “You have glitter in your hair. May I?” 

He gestures towards her head and Nesta nods. A little quietly, a little sweetly.  

“May I?” Ama scoffs to Azriel. “Do you learn manners in college?” 

“Hush now,” His mother warns, “and smile please!”  

Cassian knows he should be looking at the camera, but he looks to Nesta instead. She grins sweetly. The apple of her cheek is the color of a fresh peach, and he has the overwhelming urge to kiss at it, bite it, pinch it like his grandmother used to... but that thought has him wrinkling his nose.  

His grandmother and kissing Nesta should never be in the same sentence.  

"Focus on the camera, Cassian.”  

His face warms as he turns back to it. He doesn’t check to see if Nesta’s noticed his embarrassment. This whole day has been embarrassing, Cassian should be used to it by now, but all he wants to do is hold her hand. She’s right there, a front row seat to it all, and Cassian... he wants to hold her hand for comfort. For hers… but more likely his own.

Would she let him if he just entwined his fingers in hers?  

His stomach feels queasy as he grins and the camera clicks.  

Rhys groans and Azriel complains when his mom tells them they’ll take another one. Just the boys this time. Just Ama. Just Hamilton. Just the parents.  

“Sweetie, can I get a picture of you, too?”  

His mom looks to Nesta where she sits on the floor, nibbling on a sugar cookie. Cassian’s about to intervene, but he pauses, telling himself to stay where he is.   

“Of me?” She says, pointing to herself.  

“Yes, if that’s okay with you,” his mom adds softly. 

Cassian follows Nesta’s silhouette as she goes to the tree again, asking where she wants her to sit or stand. She smiles shyly and Cassian smiles at her smile.  

“Your face is going to get stuck like that,” Azriel sings lowly. For his ears only.  

He can hear Rhys grumble. “His face is the least of his problems. She’s wearing my antlers.”   

“And eating your cookies.”  

“I made those cookies,” Cassian hushes.  

“You make them for me.” 

“I never pegged you for the jealous type,” Azriel muses.  

“You’d think with three siblings you’ve learned to share,” Ama chimes in, grabbing a cookie from his hand.   

“Rhys has been sharing his opinion all day long, so I’d be happy if he shared less.” Cassian scoffs, not forgetting his brother’s impromptu warning Nesta’s way.  

It’s Azriel who stops their argument dead in their tracks. “I think she’s good for you.” 

Cassian looks to his brother in disbelief, sure that he might have had some cruel words to say just as Rhys had. If only for that freshman year debacle where Nesta leaves him drunk on the lawn until the ambulance arrives, even after he reaches for her.

Azriel has been hearing about Nesta for two years now. Every bit of that coffee scent in her skin. That shy but un-shy way in which she goes about campus and classes. Everything is hers for the taking, including him… why does she not just take him?

Cassian can’t think of anything to say, but it doesn’t matter anyways, because his mom is waving him over impatiently.  

“One with both of you,” she explains, whipping her head towards him and to the tree where Nesta sits.  

Nesta peers at him curiously and he can’t read every unspoken word there, but he gives her a sheepish smile.  

He goes back to where he was, that spot still open for him and waiting. “Sorry about all this. My mom’s a photographer and she gets a little stir crazy about the holidays.”   

Nesta shrugs with a simple smile to the camera.  

“Its fine,” she says. But is it?  

Cassian can’t tell she doesn’t give him explanations or conversation and Cassian wants to know exactly what she thinks of all this.  

“Now put your arm around her. You two, look like you actually like each other.”  

She doesn’t like me, he wants to blurt, but he doesn’t know if that’s correct—doesn't want that to be correct. Maybe Nesta does like him a little bit, like his dad says, if she’s willing to put up with him and this family and these pictures. She hasn’t complained even once, and he knows she can and loudly.  

She’s his friend. That has to be enough.

It is enough.

So, Cassian doesn’t put his arm over her shoulder. That’s too… familiar. Too intimate. But he leans in a bit closer and sets him arm on the opposite side of her. That way she’ll be tucked close, but not touching.

Nesta smiles at the camera, and for a moment he really looks at her. Those antler ears and the slight red of her cheeks, and those bright blue-grey eyes, those long lashes and those pretty, pink lips. As perfect as perfect could be. So perfectly Nesta Archeron.  

He can hear a click, but he doesn’t stop trying to memorize Nesta’s features.  

“Cassian, you’re not even looking,” his mom chastises.  

Cassian whips towards that camera with a blush.

“Now you blinked.”  

Nesta snickers to the side of him, and he brushes his shoulder against hers in a playful bump. “Hey, at least you don’t have to deal with this every holiday.”  

“Earth day?” Nesta asks amused.  

“Even then,” he grumbles.  

But his mom gives them both a stern look to look at the camera, and Nesta smiles once more and so does he... right after he rolls his eyes for the eleventh time.  

“There,” his mom says sighing. “You two are finally free from me.”  

His dad takes that as his chance to usher them to the couch, where piles of blankets and pillows are splayed out on the floor. Cassian pulls Nesta to the couch before any of his dweeb siblings can claim it.

“Kids, what movie are we going to watch?”   

“I vote the Elf!” Ama yells, raising her hand excitedly.  

Rhys wrinkles his nose, “that movie’s annoying.”   

“You’re annoying.”   

His dad turns to him, giving him a look that can only mean he wants to roll his eyes. Every year…  

“How about you, Cass?”  

Azriel scoffs, grabbing at the remote. It must have a magnetic connection to his hand, Cassian thinks, because he swears, he hasn’t seen him carry it around this much. “Why do we even have to vote, we all know what Cassian is going to choose.” 

The Grinch. They all know that.  

It’s Cassian’s favorite since he was small. Even when it wasn’t Christmas, his mom would put it on for him every time he got sick. She let him lay in their big parent bed where he’d be swallowed by pillows and throws, and The Grinch would be on. All that color.  

Cassian can quote every line and he thinks he does a pretty good impression of Jim Carrey… not that anyone ever wants to hear it.  

His mom holds a hand out, and Azriel begrudgingly gives her the remote. “How about we have our guest choose the first movie?” 

Rhys throws up his hands, but Nesta sits back, a small frown on her face. He knows she doesn’t like the attention they keep giving her, but… he can’t do much about that. His family’s just like that. Annoying and endearing all at once.  

Overwhelming, he should say.   

“You just said she was a part of the family,” Rhys says, “she’s not a guest, so why does she get to decide?”   

Cassian watches as his mom gives Rhys a stern look, setting her hands on her hips.  

But Nesta grimaces, shaking her head. “I’m okay with whatever. Any one is fine.”   

His dad smiles sweetly at her. Kind and patient, in the way Cassian knows well. “Then let’s make it easy. The Elf, The Grinch, the Polar Express—a personal favorite. Home Alone or Christmas with the Kranks? All of our favorite movies, and none of us will argue with what you choose.”  

Azriel sits back crossing his arms, and Ama and Rhys open their mouths to argue. His dad, this time, is the one to silence them with stern looks.  

Nesta thinks about it, rolling her hands up her thighs as if her palms are sweaty. Cassian would comfort her if he could, if it didn’t sound alarms at the action. That their relationship is something more… even if it isn’t.  

“The Grinch,” Nesta says softly. She shrugs a shoulder. “It’s my favorite Christmas movie.”   

Rhys groans, but Cassian is sure it’s not from the movie choice. They all look to him and Cassian can’t help the grin. But then, Nesta’s turning to him and he can’t help the blush.  

“I’ll make popcorn,” Cassian says, to distract them from his pleased expression. From his reddened cheeks. “I’ll even throw in some green and red M&Ms. Nes, I bought the peanut ones, just how you like.”    

~ 

Cassian wakes up to the sound of a phone ringing and he thinks of the class he has at 8:00am… But it’s not 8:00am and he’s not scrambling in his underwear, groggy as he tries to search for his phone. The ringing seems to be coming from Nesta’s phone or that’s at least what he gathers as he watches Nesta push off him. Cassian grunts as elbows dig into his stomach.  

“Feyre?”  

Her hair is in tangles as she holds that phone up to her ear. The antlers hang off to one side. Cassian can only blink blankly. He doesn’t remember ever lying down and the warmth he feels across his chest, the smell of her shampoo has him scowling.  

She’d been laying on him and he missed it! 

Nesta ignores him as she heads for the front door, not even glancing his way. She speaks in low hushed whispers as if there are secrets, she keeps. Feyre? Cassian can’t recall the name, but he tries to as he pushes off the muddled blankets, searching for his phone.  

They must have fallen asleep together and no one wakes them up. Cassian doesn’t know whether he should sing praises or shake fists.  

He decides that he’ll make the decision when Nesta comes back, and he gouges her mood. If she kills him, they’ll be safe. If she scorns him… they’ll never make it out alive.  

Yes, Cassian nods to himself. He’ll decide when Nesta gets back.  

But Nesta takes her time with her call which is well and good since it takes him a while to find his phone. The lights of the tree are still on, little bobbles of red and green, touches of gold, so Cassian doesn’t bother with the lamp. Not the brightest idea when he can’t see a thing.  

He finds his phone at last on top one of the cabinets along the wall. There are several notifications listed on the bright screen and he scowls at the flash of light. 

It’s barely past twelve. They must have fallen asleep during the last movie… 

Cassian checks Snapchat first. The group name has been changed to Ya Filthy Animals and Azriel’s name is at the bottom. 

When did he get added?   

Cassian doesn’t bother asking though. Instead, he clicks on the picture that’s been sent to all of them. 

Of her… and him. 

Nesta is draped across his body, her cheek tucked to his chest. Cassian has his hand in her hair, and he’s holding her close. Just a little too desperately to be platonic. The blanket lies on them like a bank of snow. The lights dance along their skin.  

They look… in love. So damn cozy in his childhood home and Cassian saves the picture before he moves onto the replies. It will be the second photo he has of her now. 

The reply is from Emerie. Oh, my fucking god.   

Azriel types, never regret adding me to the group chat. Merry Christmas, ya filthy animals! 

The next reply is from Gwyn and Cassian can almost see her blank expression. It’s not Christmas.  

Cassian shuts his phone off, but not before saving the photo. He checks his text messages, and he gets some from his mom. He’s in a group chat now with Nesta and his mom.  

It’s just pictures. He smiles at the one with Nesta so beautiful and then he looks at the photo of them together. And the whole family photo.  

When Nesta comes back, Cassian puts down the phone. “Is everything okay?”  

"Just my sister. She needed money for a cab.”  

“The one who lives in New York?”  

“Yep.” That’s the only thing Nesta says, and he wonders how much information she’d offer in other circumstances, and what those circumstances entail.  

They settle in uncomfortable silence, and Nesta looks to the tree and not at him. She doesn’t want to tell him more, and Cassian will respect that.  

“I brought you a present," Cassian says, as calmly as he can muster. His heart feels as if it's caught in his throat, thumping so loudly he can hear it ringing in his ears. Cassian grabs it from one of the cabinets where he tucks it away and sets it in her lap when she doesn’t move to take it from him.

His wrapping skills are messy at best, but the wrapping paper is chosen for her. There are books all over it. 

“It’s not even Christmas," she says, but there's no malice in her voice. Only something cautious and curious.  

“But it’s something you want.” 

Nesta looks at the present warily, but she takes it. She unwraps it like he thought she would. All care for the paper and none of the mess. She'll save it, he knows. Because Nesta saves everything. Every note. Every notebook.  

Cassian watches as her eyes get big and he restrains himself from grinning wide. Nesta holds up the book with a gasp. “This doesn’t come out 'til next Tuesday!” 

“I found it in a bookstore when we went to the tree farm," Cassian explains, plainly. There’s a picture of a half-naked man on the front and to say the clerk looked at him weird for buying two made him think that bookshop in Alexandra was a touch on the judge-y side. “I bought one for Emerie too, so you can both squeal about it, but you don't have to share.” 

Nesta stares at the book in awe, flipping to the back and running her fingers along the hardcover. Cassian waits patiently, running his hands down his pajama pants. They always seem so clammy when she's near. 

Suddenly Nesta looks concerned. Her mouth twists, her skin crinkles between the brows. She looks angry and Cassian takes a step back, holding up his hands. "Do you not like--" 

Her arms wrap around his neck and just when he thinks she just might choke him, Nesta kisses sweetly at his lips.

Cassian can't think, he can't pull away. He can’t remember his own name. 

Her lips are soft, and she smells like vanilla, and she presses against him so sweetly. His hands go to her rumbled hair, keeping her close as he nips at her bottom lip.

Nesta pulls back, and her lips are swollen as she says, “I didn’t mean to do that.”  

But she kisses him and that’s a fact that has him grinning, singing that she likes him. She likes him. She likes him after all.  

Nesta likes him more than a friend.

So, Cassian sets his hand on her cheek, his heart settling into a familiar roar, as he feels how soft her skin is there. Nesta holds a hand to her chest as if she could possibly stop the ferocious beat. Her eyes are glittering with the Christmas lights.

“I didn’t mean to do this,” he says, as he sets his lips on hers once more.  

 ~~~~

Stu(died) Tagged List: 

@arinbelle @my-fan-side @sophilightwood @nestaarcher0n @duskandstarlight @soitsgorgeous @swankii-art-teacher @lordof-bloodshed @thewhelk @daisy-in-danger @highqueenevankhell @lovelynesta @sirendeepity @champanheandluxxury @ladynestaarcheron @moodymelanist @teagoddess99 @spoilersteph @angelic-voice-1997 @bo0kmaster69 @drielecarla @generalnesta @cozycomfyliving08 @confusedfandomslut @dread3r @sv0430 @unhealthyfanobsession @simpingfornestaarcheron @talkfantasytome

~~~~

I am never writing this long of a chapter again. Mark my words. It’s never happening again. I have become desensitized to this chapter that I don’t know even know if it’s in character but it is what it is. 

Also, you’ll learn the reason why Cassian has never been in a library (which he says in the first chapter) in the next chapter. His mom is a wildlife photographer, so for a long time they did homeschool or would leave so that they could all be together, and that was like on and off issue. I just didn’t want to explain that in this chapter if I was already explaining what everyone else was doing. I only give a little bit of relevant info at a time. 

Also having so many characters in one scene is tough, don’t do that to yourself. 

[blackbird-brewster]

Idk what to do. I can’t stay in this state. They haven’t passed any new anti-trans laws here yet, but it’ll happen soon. There’s also just so much trauma and shit here and it’s killing me slowly to stay, but I’m terrified to leave. All my family is here. My lost pets and loved ones are buried here. I know it’ll kill me to stay, but the fear of moving is just so big. The fear of what my family will say or think terrifies me.

Hello Anon,

First off, thank you for trusting me with your worries. You're absolutely not alone, I've actually been through this exact same thing. I'm going to put my reply behind a cut because it involves mental health stuff/homophobia/etc. <3

I want to share my story, because it might help you. Or at the very least, I want you to know you are in good company here. I understand completely. I spent about 90% of 2014-early 2016 in and out of psych wards, hospitals, and ICU. I lost someone very dear ot me at the end of 2013 and it was the catalyst for a complete psychotic break and then a subsequent series of horrific mental health crisises.

At the time, I was living in Texas (born and raised). My family is super conservative (I have since cut them all off), it's the American south, super conservative, and I had been out as queer since age 15. It was never a place that was safe for me. But it's where I ended up.

Due to my mental health, I lost my job, then my apartment, and I ended up being homeless. Which obviously didn't help the mental health issues. I lived in my car for over a year, everything I owned in the world fit in a tiny Chevy Aveo compact.

My circumstances, my location, everything -- (as you said) was killing me slowly. I attempted to take my own life multiple times because I just saw no other way out of my situation.

I knew if I stayed, I wouldn't survive. I knew if I stayed there, it was a death sentence. Like you, my family was there, my past loved ones were buried there (I've seen too many deaths in my life, so this was doubly true and important), my life was there. But it wasn't much of a life at all.

In early 2016, my car got repossed while Iw as out of town. I was very lucky that the repo company allowed me to collect my belongings (since it was literally the only things I owned, since I was still living in that car) So what was I to do when the car I lived in was gone? I had nothing, I had nowhere to go. That place was suffocating me day by day. I had met a woman on here and we'd been in a sort of long distance online relationship for a handful of months.

I decided there was absolutely nothing worth staying in Texas for. I ended up selling what little I had, clearing out my tiny bit of money, crowdfunded the rest -- and I bough a one-way ticket to Aotearoa. My flight was 10 days after I bought the ticket. I gave everyone in my life a 10 day notice that I was moving across the globe on a whim. My family scoffed, they thought it was stupid, told me I'd be back, told me just like everything in my life 'it was a phase', etc. But I did it any way.

And you know what, Anon? Eight years later, I'm a permenant resident here, I'm thriving, my life is so fulfilling and beautiful. While the woman I moved here for wasn't my forever, this country was. My current partner and I have been together for five years, and they are my forever.

I will NEVER regret buying that one-way ticket. It literally saved my life. My handful of friends in the US know that if I had stayed, I wouldn't be here today to tell you this story. It HURTS, god it hurts deep in my soul, to be so so so far away from those handful of people who will always be my best friends. It really hurts to know how many huge events I've missed because I live a world away, but at the same time, we all agree that it's much easier to long for each other than for them to mourn my death.

So I'm not sugar coating it, moving away from people you love is SO difficult, and you will miss them always. But (depending on where you move to) you can visit them, and if not in person, technology can connect you with one click. I talk to my friends every single day and we make it work. (I'll never go back to the US)

It's a VERY hard choice, but ultimately you need to ask yourself what's more important: your life or other people's opinions.

I hope you choose your life. Because the world needs you, Anon and it would be a dimmer place without you. Don't let your location hollow out your soul, don't let your location take your life, it's just not worth it. Move, relocate, start over in a safe environment. I am so very proud of you and I love you, I know you've got this. <3